Interplay of early biochemical manifestations by cadmium insult in sertoli–germ coculture: An in vitro study

Cadmium is a common environmental and occupational hazard and its adverse effect on reproductive organ has been well documented. The present study is planned to delineate the mechanism of Cd toxicity in rat testes. Our study shows that Cd causes apoptosis in sertoli–germ cells which is governed by oxidative stress. We assayed ROS, GSH and MMP to ensure the role of oxidative stress, further confirmed it by thiol modulators. The initial biochemical response shown in sertoli–germ cells was a significant rise in intracellular calcium followed by a drastic fall in MMP and then ROS generation. The downstream events included cytochrome c release leading to caspase-3 activation and culminating in cell death via apoptosis. Furthermore Cd disrupted the spermatogenic pathway as evident by suppression in tesmin and LDH-X levels.

► Cd induces early biochemical changes:disruption of Ca homeostasis, ROS, GSH MMP.
► Cd causes caspase dependent apoptosis in sertoli–germ coculture.
► Suppression of LDH-X and tesmin indicate substantial loss of spermatogenesis.