Cadmium Chloride Reduces Testicular and Epididymal Weights with Degenerative Histoarchitectural Changes in Testis and Pituitary Gland of Wistar Rats

Abstract

In diagnostic medicine, one of the numerous points for infertility probe is the Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis (HPGA). In males, this neuro-endocrine pathway is a major influence in the biosynthesis and regulation of Testosterone (from the testes), which is responsible for their primary and secondary sexual characteristics. This study sought to investigate the modulatory effect(s) of Cadmium chloride (CC) on the weight and histology of the Testis and anterior pituitary gland; using Wistar rats as an experimental model. Ten (10) male acclimatized rats (between 186 g and 193 g) were grouped (n=5 per group) into two (A=control and B=experimental). While group A received normal rats chow and tap water ad libitum, group B was fed normal rat chow and 0.5 mg/kg of CC daily in drinking water for 5 weeks (LD50 of CC=88 mg/kg). After a period of experimentation, animals were weighed and sacrificed with testis and pituitary glands harvested, blotted dry and weighed. Tissue sections for microscope studies were prepared. Students’ t-test proved a significant reduction in testicular weight, with the insignificant outcome for body and epididymal weights. Histomorphological sections through the testes and pituitary gland showed degenerative changes as well. It is recommended that attention is given to the environmental needs of the oil producing communities, were inhabitants are mostly prone to cadmium chloride (being a traceable component of crude oil), especially in the provision of good health care delivery system.