Department of Comparative Anatomy and Pathological Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007 Jan;23(1):96-101. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2006.07.008. Epub 2006 Aug 4.
The purpose of this study was to quantify the consequences of a long-term exposure to low doses of cadmium on the testicular structure. Sexually mature male mice were orally exposed to cadmium (0.015g/1 of CdCl2 in drinking water) for 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and then sacrificed; cadmium withdrawal was also considered in two groups raised with cadmium for 3 and 6 months, and without cadmium for 3 and 6 months before sacrifice, respectively. Morphometrical and stereological estimations were applied to quantify the structural constituents of the testes. The morphological parameters (testicular mass and size) were significantly decreased at 6 and 12 months of cadmium exposure. Interstitium was the testicular constituent most sensitive to cadmium so that significant decreases in the volume fractions of interstitium and Leydig cells were recorded as from 3 months of cadmium exposure. Cadmium-exposed seminipherous tubules showed increased diameters and lumens together with decreased tubular densities and epithelial percentages.
本研究旨在定量评估长期低剂量镉暴露对睾丸结构的影响。将性成熟雄性小鼠经口暴露于镉（0.015g/1 的 CdCl2 在饮用水中）1、3、6 和 12 个月，然后处死；两组分别在暴露 3 和 6 个月后，以及在处死前分别用镉和无镉饲养 3 和 6 个月。应用形态计量学和体视学估计来量化睾丸的结构成分。在镉暴露 6 个月和 12 个月时，形态学参数（睾丸质量和大小）显著降低。间质是对镉最敏感的睾丸成分，从 3 个月的镉暴露开始，间质和间质细胞的体积分数就显著降低。镉暴露的生精小管显示出直径和管腔增加，同时管状密度和上皮百分比降低。
