Effects of diallyl sulfide and zinc on testicular steroidogenesis in cadmium-treated male rats

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the environmental pollutants that affect various tissues and organs including testis. Harmful effect of cadmium on testis is known to be germ cell degeneration and impairment of testicular steroidogenesis. In the present study, the effect of diallyl sulfide (DAS), a sulfur‐con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology 2008-09, Vol.22 (5), p.345-353
Main Author: Sadik, Nermin A. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allyl Compounds - administration & dosage
Allyl Compounds - pharmacology
Animals
Antioxidants - metabolism
Biomarkers - metabolism
Body Weight - drug effects
Cadmium
Cadmium - administration & dosage
Cadmium - toxicity
Diallyl Sulfide
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
Luteinizing Hormone - blood
Male
Marker Enzymes
Organ Size - drug effects
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Steroids - biosynthesis
Sulfides - administration & dosage
Sulfides - pharmacology
Testis
Testis - anatomy & histology
Testis - drug effects
Testis - enzymology
Testis - metabolism
Testosterone
Testosterone - blood
Zinc
Zinc - administration & dosage
Zinc - pharmacology
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Summary:Cadmium (Cd) is one of the environmental pollutants that affect various tissues and organs including testis. Harmful effect of cadmium on testis is known to be germ cell degeneration and impairment of testicular steroidogenesis. In the present study, the effect of diallyl sulfide (DAS), a sulfur‐containing volatile compound present in garlic, and zinc (Zn) was investigated on cadmium‐induced testicular toxicity in rats. Male adult Wistar rats treated with cadmium (2.5 mg/kg body wt, five times a week for 4 weeks) showed decreased body weight, paired testicular weight, relative testicular weight, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone, and testicular total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and protein levels. Testicular steroidogenic enzymes, such as 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD) and 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β‐HSD), and marker enzymes, such as sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), showed a significant decrease in activities whereas that of γ‐glutamyl transferase was significantly increased after cadmium exposure. The results have revealed that concurrent treatment with DAS or zinc restored key steroidogenic enzymes, SDH, LDH, and G6PD and increased testicular weight significantly. DAS restored the TAC level and increased testosterone level and relative testicular weight significantly. Zinc restored testicular protein level and body weight. It can be concluded that cadmium causes testicular toxicity and inhibits androgen production in adult male rats probably by affecting pituitary gonadotrophins and that concurrent administration of DAS or zinc provides protection against cadmium‐induced testicular toxicity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 22:345–353, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20247
ISSN:1095-6670
1099-0461
DOI:10.1002/jbt.20247