Effect of N-benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate on lipid peroxidation in testes of rats treated with cadmium.

The effect of N-benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (BGD) on lipid peroxidation in testes, liver, and kidney of rats after cadmium injection was studied. Rats were injected subcutaneously with 5 mg CdCl2/kg and 30 min later they were injected intraperitoneally with BGD (400 mumol/kg). Cadmium treatment resulted in a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation in these organs, with a particularly remarkable increase in the testes. The increased lipid peroxidation in these organs was decreased to the control level by BGD injection after cadmium treatment. The lipid peroxidation in microsomes in testes was significantly increased compared to that of the control. BGD treatment significantly decreased the cadmium concentration in the microsomes in testes of cadmium-treated rats. The lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney microsomes was little changed. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the testes, liver, and kidney were little changed by cadmium treatment. The catalase activity in the testes was increased after cadmium injection and BGD treatment significantly decreased the increased enzyme activity. These results suggest relatively small contribution of SOD, GSH-Px, and catalase in cadmium-induced lipid peroxidation in the testes. The depressive effect of BGD on the increased lipid peroxidation in the testes of rats treated with cadmium may be in part related to the decrease in the cadmium concentration in the microsomes in testes.