The Effects of Cadmium Pollution on Female Rat Reproductive System

Cadmium is one of the most toxic heavy metals and an environmental and occupational pollutant that endangers human and animal health. In this research we studied the effects of cadmium chloride on adult Wistar rat’s female reproductive system. The rats were divided into 5 groups. The experimental groups were fed with 11, 23, 35 and 50 mg/kg of cadmium chloride daily for 10 days (two estrous cycles). Estrous cycle was examined daily by vaginal smear and animals in estrus phase were selected. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken fromdorsal aorta to assess the blood estradiol and progesterone concentrations. Estradiol was measured by Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and progesterone by radioimmunoassay technique. Then, uteruses and ovaries were removed and after weighting were prepared histologically. Results showed that the length of estrous cycle in animals that were treated with 11 mg/kg of cadmium increased significantly. The serum level of progesterone in groups that were treated with 11 and 23 mg/kg of cadmium increased significantly but only the 35 and 50 mg/kg treated groups showed significant decrease compared with the control group. Histological studies did not reveal any pathological changes, however there were some atretic follicles in 35 and 50 mg/kg treated groups. Cadmium is a common contaminant of natural environment. It can enter to food chain indirectly and affects the female reproductive system as we showed in rats as an experimental model.