Cadmium (Cd) is an important heavy metal widely used in batteries, metal plating, pigments, and in the plastic industries. In addition to occupational exposure, environmental Cd exposure in humans may occur through cigarette smoking and dietary consumption.
L-carnitine is a small water-soluble molecule important in mammalian fat metabolism.Carnitines has a protective role against reactive oxygen species (ROS) by exerting antioxidant properties .Reactive oxygen species enhance lipid peroxidation, alter antioxidant system, induce DNA damage, and alter gene expression and apoptosis.
The objective of the study was to demonstrate the effect of acute and chronic Cadmium exposure on testis of adult male albino rats and the possible protective role of L-carnitine on Cadmium induced testicular damage.
This work was performed on 50 adult male albino rats.
- The animals were housed in clean well ventilated cages.
- Every 5 rats were housed in a separate cage under strict care and hygiene to keep them in normal and healthy conditions.Free access to food and water was be allowed.
- The animal was kept under supervision of a professional technican.
- The animals were divided as follow:-
(1) Control group (10 animals):
(2) Positive control group (20 animals):
This group was subdivided into:
A)Subgroup 2a: (10 animals)
Rats were given a single intra peritoneal injection of Cadmium cholride in a dose of 2.5 mg/ kg(Gupta et al., 2004).
B)Subgroup 2b: (10 animals)
Rats were given Cadmium cholride in a dose of 1mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection .for four weeks with an interval of 48 h between subsequent treatments (Kara et al.,2007).
(3) Experimental group (20 animals):
This group was subdivided into:
A)Subgroup 3a: (10 animals)
Rats were given L-carnitine and Cadmium cholride in a dose of 200 mg/kg (Ucu¨ncu¨ et al.,2006) and 2.5mg/kg intraperitoneal injection respectively.Cadmium cholride was given as single injection and L-carnitine injection started one day before and continued for two dayes after Cadmium adminisrtation was stopped(Wen et al.,2007).
B)Subgroup 3b: (10 animals)
Rats were given L-carnitine and Cadmium cholride in a dose of 200mg/kg(Ucu¨ncu¨ et al.,2006) and 1mg/kg intra peritoneal injection respectively.Cadmium cholride was given for four weeks with an interval of 48 h between subsequent treatments and L-carnitine injection started one day before and continued for two dayes after each Cadmium adminisrtation (Wen et al.,2007) .
- Testicular tissue samples were stained with hemotoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome for histological evaluation.
- Tissue sections were examined by transmission electron microscope (T.E.M) |
