Cadmium induced testicular damage and its response to administration of succimer and diphenyl diselenide in mice

Acute effects of cadmium in mice testes were evaluated. Animals received a single dose of CdCl2 (2.5 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and a number of toxicological parameters in mice testes were examined such as delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) activity, lipid peroxidation, hemoglobin content and components of the antioxidant defenses (superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and ascorbic acid concentration). Furthermore, a possible protective effect of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)(2) are studied. The results demonstrated inhibition of delta-ALA-D and SOD activities, reduction in ascorbic acid, increase of lipid peroxidation induced by cadmium, indicating testes damage. DMSA (400 mumol/Kg) and (PhSe)(2) (100 mumol/Kg) protected inhibitory effect of 2.5 mg/kg CdCl2 on delta-ALA-D and restored the increase of TBARS levels. Otherwise, (PhSe)(2) treatment was effective in reducing the increase of TBARS levels induced by 5 mg/kg CdCl2, whereas DMSA and (PhSe)(2), in combination, were ineffective in reducing TBARS level. However, these compounds alone or in combination, were unable to protect SOD activity and to improve ascorbic acid levels near to the normal value. The use of combined therapy (DMSA plus (PhSe)(2)) not proved be better than the monotherapy, in improving toxicological parameters evaluated in this model of testicular damage induced by cadmium. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.