Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Exposure to cadmium during gestation and lactation affects development and function of Leydig cells in male offspring
Huajian Tian1,2, Shaomin Chen1,2, Yang Leng1,2
1Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
Abstract:
Toxic effects of maternal exposure to Cadmium (Cd) on Leydig cells of male offspring arises much concern recently, but its toxic effects on the development of Leydig cells and androgen synthesis have not been elucidated. In this study, female rats were exposed to Cd during gestation and lactation, and the development of Leydig cells in the first filial-generation (F1) male rats was investigated. The steroidogenic signaling pathway and biomarkers related to the development of Leydig cells were detected to disclose how maternal Cd-exposure caused reproductive damage. F1 male rats with maternal Cd-exposure gained a low relative weight of testis and declined levels of steroid hormones. Maternal Cd-exposure interrupted the development of Leydig cells with high expression of SRD5α and cell morphology of immature Leydig cells in adulthood, inhibited the activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate/ protein kinase A signaling pathway and down-regulated the steroidogenic enzymes. These results would help to disclose the origin of male sexual dysfunction in the developmental stages of Leydig cells.
Related Concept Videos
Teratogenicity
Toxicity Testing in Animals
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...

