Mechanism of acute cadmium toxicity in the testis of the rat: a cellular and molecular inquiry

The more sensitive Sertoli cells were chosen as a model to investigate a molecular mechanism of toxicity. Primary rat Sertoli cells were exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium and the changes in [32P]-orthophosphate-labelled phosphoproteins using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were examined. Resultant autoradiograms showed a delayed dose- and time-dependent increase in intensity of two acidic proteins having identical molecular weights. These changes were most probably a result of increased synthesis of the proteins. Pretreatment of the cells with zinc, a cadmium antagonist, partially reduced the effect of cadmium. This research concludes that Sertoli cells are relatively more sensitive to the effects of cadmium than interstitial cells. A time- and dose dependent increase in [32P]-associated activity to two small Sertoli cell phosphoproteins was consistently seen after cadmium exposure, whereas no effect could be seen using essential, non-toxic metals. This response may be an early indicator in the disruption of cellular homeostasis by cadmium, and will hopefully contribute positive evidence in the search for a molecular mechanism of cadmium toxicity