Effects of cadmium on serum sex hormone levels in pigs

An inhibition of sex hormone secretion is observed in domestic animals exposed to cadmium in experimental conditions. Ninety-six gilts (Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire, initial weight 27.59 kg) were randomly assigned into four different groups with three replications in each group (eight gilts per replication). The groups received the corn-soybean basal diet and supplemented with 0, 0.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg cadmium (as CdCl2) respectively. The feeding trial was ended when body weight of pigs was approximately 90 kg. The results showed that 10.0 mg/kg cadmium significantly decreased average daily gain (p < 0.05) and increased feed/gain ratio (p < 0.05) of pigs. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, oestradiol (E-2) and progesterone levels in serum of the pigs fed the diet supplemented with 10.0 mg/kg cadmium were lower significantly than those of the control (p < 0.05). Compared with the control, no changes were found in the levels mentioned above when the pigs fed the diet supplemented with 0.5 or 5.0 mg/kg cadmium (p > 0.05). The changes of regulatory mechanism of the pituitary-ovary axis may be the result of cadmium accumulation in pituitary and ovary and should be investigated further.