A possible mechanism of infertility by acute cadmium intoxication

A possible mechanism of infertility by Cd was investigated from the standpoint of influence of Cd on the contractile responses of isolated seminal vesicle from guinea pigs to K, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, Ba and Ca by using the Magnus method. Cd inhibited the contractile responses to the contractile agents tested in a dose-dependent manner. Cd showed the preferential inhibition against the contractile responses to K and Ca. The inhibitory effect of Cd on the contractile responses to noradrenaline and acetylcholine was hardly removed. The effect of Cd was inhibited by the thiol compounds, glutathione and thiola. The active mechanism of Cd was discussed in relation to Ca mobilization.