Naslov
Acute cadmium exposure and ovarian steroidogenesis in cycling and pregnant rats

Autori
Piasek, Martina ; Laskey, John W.

Izvornik
Reproductive toxicology (0890-6238) 8 (1994), 6; 495-507

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
cadmium ; cycling ; iron ; ovary ; placenta ; pregnant ; rat ; steroidogenesis

Sažetak
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect(s) of acute in vivo cadmium (Cd) exposure on steroidogenesis in rat ovaries during different reproductive states. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously on the day of diestrus, or on day 7 or 16 of gestation with a single dose of 0, 3, or 5 mg Cd/kg bw, and evaluated 24 h later. Serum progesterone and estradiol concentrations were determined. Whole-ovary culture was used to evaluate Cd effects on the production of progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol. Liver, kidney, spleen, ovary, placenta, and blood were analyzed for Cd and iron (Fe) concentrations. No general toxic effects, no disruption of estrous cyclicity, and no change in fetal viability were seen. Histologic evaluation revealed moderate Cd- related thecal congestion in ovaries of pregnant rats. The highest Cd concentrations, except for liver, were fund in the fetal portion of the placenta. Interestingly, Cd-related decreases in Fe concentration were found in several tissues from rats in proestrus and on gestation day 8, and in fetal placenta from rats on gestation day 17. Cadmium appears to interfere with normal steroidogenesis at a number of sites in the biosynthetic pathway with serum estradiol concentration and ovarian estradiol production the most affected. Acute Cd effects on steroidogenesis are most severe in rats evaluated in proestrus or in an early pregnancy, while in late pregnancy steroidogenesis is relatively unaffected.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti, Kliničke medicinske znanosti

Napomena
The financial support by NIH Fogarty postdoctoral
fellowship (to M. P.) is acknowledged under which
the research contained in the paper had been
completed in the laboratories of HERL, US EPA,
RTP, NC, USA.

POVEZANOST RADA