The effect of low doses of cadmium and zinc chloride on the Blood-Testis Barrier of Sprague Dawley rats

TL;DR

This study investigated the long-term effects of low-dose cadmium and zinc chloride on rat testes, finding no morphological changes or blood-testis barrier disruption, but zinc appeared to strengthen cell junctions and reduce transferrin levels.

Contribution

It provides new evidence that low-dose cadmium does not damage rat testes and shows zinc's role in reinforcing cell junctions and modulating transferrin under toxic exposure.

Findings

No morphological testis changes after 12 months of low-dose cadmium exposure.

Zinc supplementation strengthened tight and adherens junctions in testes.

Zinc decreased transferrin immunoexpression in testicular tissue.

Abstract

Background: Cadmium chloride is an environmental toxic that affects the male reproductive system. This study was directed 1) to evaluate whether long-term oral exposures to low doses of Cd in rats causes morphological changes, 2) the immunohistochemical TJ and AJ protein expression; and 3) to evidence that zinc exposure can modify Cd effects. Methods: Testis of normal rats and rats that have received Cd or Cd+Zn in drinking water during 12 months did not show any morphological change. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify BTB integrity, claudin-1, ZO-1, N-Cadherin and {\beta}-catenin were detected by immunohistochemistry and IOD were measure. Results: No immunoexpression changes of claudin-1 and ZO-1 were observed. Cd + Zn group showed a significant increase of IOD of N-Cadherin, and a significant decrease of {\beta}-catenin and transferrin immunoexpression was observed. Conclusions: Ours findings showed that the intake of low oral doses of cadmium chloride over a long time period of time did not cause morphological variation on rat testis. Neither alteration on BTB was found. Zinc chloride was able to strengthen TJ and AJ, and decrease transferrin. Key words: Testis prostate, cadmium, zinc, TJ, AJ, immunohistochemistry