CADMIUM-INDUCED SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION DOES NOT INVOLVE INCREASED HEPATIC-METABOLISM OF TESTOSTERONE NOR INCREASED CIRCULATING LEVELS OF CORTICOSTERONE

Sexually experienced male rats were injected IP with 0, 0.3, 1.5, 3.0, or 6.0 mg/kg cadmium chloride. The highest dose was fatal within 48 h of injection. A dose-related deficit in erectile function was observe d in ex copula tests 48 h after injection. Copulatory dysfunction was evident in mating tests 72 h after injection. Hepatic mixed function o xidase activity after 0.3 mg/kg injections was not different from cont rols, but was diminished by 50% in rats treated with 3.0 mg/kg. The hi gher cadmium doses (1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg) were associated with equivalent and marked reductions in circulating testosterone levels,and lesser d ecrements in circulating corticosterone levels. The rats treated with 1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg cadmium chloride lost weight (32 +/- 12 and 39 +/- 9 g, respectively). Relative decapsulated adrenal gland weights were mar kedly increased in rats treated with 3.0 mg/kg. These data indicate th at exposure to cadmium is associated with alterations in sexual, hepat ic, and adrenal function, with erectile dysfunction occurring at the l owest dose. The effects on copulatory behavior are especially striking because it requires some weeks for copulatory behavior to wane follow ing castration.