Document Type

Article

Journal Title

Environmental health perspectives

Publication Date

Winter 1-1-1996

Volume

104

Abstract

Exposure to low levels of cadmium reduces fertility. In male mice spermatogenesis is highly sensitive to cadmium, whereas in females the peri-implantation period of pregnancy is sensitive. To examine the potential roles of the cadmium-binding protein, metallothionein (MT), in the reproductive toxicology of cadmium, we examined a transgenic mouse strain that overexpresses metallothionein-I (MT-I). These mice had dramatically increased steady-state levels of MT-I mRNA and MT in the testes and in the female reproductive tract during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy, and this overexpression occurred in a cell-specific and temporally regulated manner similar to that of the endogenous MT-I gene. Transgenic and control males were injected with cadmium, and the histology of the testes was examined. An injection of 7.5 mumol Cd/kg had no effect on histology of the testes in either transgenic or control mice. In contrast, an injection of 10 mumol Cd/kg caused rapid changes in the histology of the testes and resulted in pronounced testicular necrosis in both control and transgenic mice. Female transgenic and control mice were mated and then injected with cadmium (30-45 mumol Cd/kg) on the day of blastocyst implantation (day 4). In both of these groups, injection of cadmium reduced pregnancy rate, and no dramatic protection was afforded by maternal and/or embryonic overexpression of MT. Thus, overexpression of MT-I does not significantly protect against either of these cadmium-induced effects on fertility.

MeSH Headings

Animals, Cadmium Chloride, Female, Male, Metallothionein, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Pregnancy, RNA, Messenger, Reproduction, Spermatogenesis, Testis, Toxicity Tests, Uterus

ISSN

0091-6765

Rights

EHP is a publication of the U.S. Federal Government, and its content lies in the public domain. No permission is required to reuse EHP content. However, use of materials published in EHP should be acknowledged (for example, “Reproduced from Environmental Health Perspectives”) and a link provided to the article from which the material was reproduced.

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