Cadmium effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in male rats

This study analyzes cadmium effects at the hypothalamicpituitary-testicular axis. Male rats were given cadmium during puberty or adulthood. Cadmium ex posure through puberty increased norepinephrine content in all hypothalamic areas studied, but not in the median eminence. Metal exposure increased se rotonin turnover in median eminence and the anterior hypothalamus, while de creased it in mediobasal hypothalamus. Also, decreased plasma levels of tes tosterone were found, Cadmium exposure during adulthood increased norepinep hrine content in posterior hypothalamus and decreased the neurotransmitter content in anterior and mediobasal hypothalamus. Decreased circulating leve ls of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone and increased plasma follic le stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were also observed. Cadmium accumulated in all analyzed tissues. Various parameters showed age-dependent changes. These data suggest that cadmium globally effects hypothalamic-pituitary-tes ticular axis function by acting at the three levels analyzed and that an in teraction between cadmium exposure and age emerge.