Effects of paternal cadmium exposure on the sperm quality of male rats and the neurobehavioral system of their offspring

  • Authors:
    • Xiaoguo Zhao
    • Zhenzhen Cheng
    • Yi Zhu
    • Shan Li
    • Liang Zhang
    • Yunbo Luo
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 25, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2777
  • Pages: 2356-2360
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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a testicular toxicant and an endocrine disruptor in humans and rodents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of paternal Cd exposure on the sperm quality of male rats and the neurobehavioral system of their offspring. A total of 12 male rats were randomized into a control and Cd‑treated group (n=6 per group), and 12 female rats were administered distilled water and randomly divided into two groups (n=6 per group). Subsequently, sperm motility, viability, malformation rate of male rats and the neuromotor maturation, antioxidant ability, Cd accumulation in different organs of their offspring were measured. Compared with the control rats, the sperm motility rate and vitality were significantly reduced (P<0.01) and the sperm malformation rate was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the male rats following Cd treatment. Regarding the nervous system development of the offspring, the cliff‑avoidance reflex, surface‑righting reflex and negative geotaxis results exhibited significant differences between the Cd exposure and control groups (P<0.05). The Cd content in the liver and heart of the offspring of the Cd exposure rats was higher than that in the control rats (P<0.05), and the liver content peaked on postnatal day 21. Furthermore, Cd exposure affected the antioxidant activity of the offspring, which was shown by glutathione, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase assays. Collectively, the results indicate that Cd exposure affects the sperm quality of male rats and the neurobehavioral system of their offspring.
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December-2015
Volume 10 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhao X, Cheng Z, Zhu Y, Li S, Zhang L and Luo Y: Effects of paternal cadmium exposure on the sperm quality of male rats and the neurobehavioral system of their offspring. Exp Ther Med 10: 2356-2360, 2015
APA
Zhao, X., Cheng, Z., Zhu, Y., Li, S., Zhang, L., & Luo, Y. (2015). Effects of paternal cadmium exposure on the sperm quality of male rats and the neurobehavioral system of their offspring. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 10, 2356-2360. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2777
MLA
Zhao, X., Cheng, Z., Zhu, Y., Li, S., Zhang, L., Luo, Y."Effects of paternal cadmium exposure on the sperm quality of male rats and the neurobehavioral system of their offspring". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 10.6 (2015): 2356-2360.
Chicago
Zhao, X., Cheng, Z., Zhu, Y., Li, S., Zhang, L., Luo, Y."Effects of paternal cadmium exposure on the sperm quality of male rats and the neurobehavioral system of their offspring". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 10, no. 6 (2015): 2356-2360. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2777