Evaluation of the Reversibility of Cadmium-Induced Testicular Toxicity Following Recovery Alone or with Zinc Supplementation

Jihane Ait Benbella (), Samy Housbane, Youness Kadil, Fatimaezzahra Kabbali, Ikram Ghicha, Hasnaa Bazhar, Fatiha Bousselham, Afaf Banid, Othmane Hammani, Noureddine Louanjli, Mehdi Karkouri, Abderrahmane Mellouki, Houda Filali and Rachid Aboutaieb
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Jihane Ait Benbella: Laboratory of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Samy Housbane: Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Youness Kadil: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Fatimaezzahra Kabbali: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Ikram Ghicha: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Hasnaa Bazhar: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Fatiha Bousselham: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Afaf Banid: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Othmane Hammani: National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat 10102, Morocco
Noureddine Louanjli: Labomac IVF Center and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Casablanca 20120, Morocco
Mehdi Karkouri: Department of Pathology, CHU Ibn Rochd, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
Abderrahmane Mellouki: Department of Pathology, CHU Ibn Rochd, Casablanca 20100, Morocco
Houda Filali: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco
Rachid Aboutaieb: Laboratory of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University Casablanca, Casablanca 20360, Morocco

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that disrupts spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis due to its long half-life. This study evaluated the impact of recovery alone or with zinc (Zn) supplementation on Cd-induced testicular toxicity. A total of 42 pubertal male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups of six rats each. The control group (1) received NaCl (0.9%). Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with Cd 10 μg/kg/d by intraperitoneal injection for 1, 2, and 3 months respectively. Group 5 received Cd for 3 months with a recovery period of 1 month; Group 6 was exposed to Cd for 3 months, followed by a 1-month recovery period combined with Zn supplementation. (0.5 mg/kg/d). The last group was treated with zinc at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for one month. The results showed decreased body weight, testicular and epididymal weight, testicular dimensions, and sperm parameters, along with Cd accumulation in the testes. Cd caused testicular damage and reduced serum testosterone levels, with more pronounced effects in the 3-month treatment group. Recovery alone did not significantly reverse Cd’s toxic effects, whereas Zn supplementation mitigated most of the damage. Recovery combined with Zn supplementation was more effective in correcting Cd-induced testicular toxicity than recovery alone.

Keywords: cadmium; testicular toxicity; recovery; zinc (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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