Embryonic cadmium exposure of male rats alters reproductive functions at adulthood, but without overt alterations in developmental and behavioral outcomes and metabolism

The effects of exposure of pregnant rats to cadmium (Cd) on the developmental and behavioral outcomes, reproductive functions, and metabolism of their male progeny were evaluated. Rats (Wistar) were injected intraperitoneally with either 0.5 or 5.0 µg Cd/kg body weight from day 12 to day 19 of pregnancy. The male offspring were evaluated for their developmental outcomes and behavioral changes. All developmental and behavioral parameters assessed were comparable among the different groups. All male pups were allowed to develop until 100 days of age and evaluated for reproductive end points. The results revealed that although the body weights and relative weights of liver, brain, kidney, testis, and epididymis were not altered, reproductive parameters, including daily sperm production, epididymal sperm numbers, and concentrations of motile, viable, and hypo-osmotic tail-swelled sperm declined significantly in rats exposed to 0.5 and 5.0 µg Cd during embryonic development. In addition, plasma testosterone levels and activity levels of testicular steroidogenic enzymes also decreased in these rats. In the fertility study, although each male in the 0.5, 5.0 µg, and control groups produced a copulatory plug and impregnated a female, the mean number of implantations and live fetuses was reduced significantly in females mated with rats exposed to 0.5 and 5.0 µg Cd during the prenatal period. The general metabolism of the animals exposed to Cd during embryonic development was comparable with the controls as evidenced by no significant changes in the activity levels of succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransaminase, and alanine aminotransaminases in the liver, kidney, and testis. The results thus suggest that maternal Cd exposure during embryonic development markedly affected the spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, and fertility potential, but without alterations in the development, behavior, and metabolism.