Protective Effect of Ganoderma Triterpenoids on Cadmium-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Chickens

Studies have shown that cadmium can cause chicken testicular damage, but a protective effect of Ganoderma triterpenoids on cadmium-induced testicular damage in chickens has not yet been reported. The present study was designed to research the protective effect of Ganoderma triterpenoids on cadmium-induced testicular damage in chicken. Eighty healthy 7-day-old Hyline egg laying chickens were randomly divided into four groups with 20 in each group. The control group was fed with normal full-fodder, the model group was fed with normal full-fodder with 140 mg/kg of CdCl₂, the Ganoderma triterpenoid treatment group was fed with a full-fodder diet containing 140 mg/kg of CdCl₂ and 0.5 mL of Ganoderma triterpenoid solution (20 mg/mL), and the Ganoderma triterpenoid group was fed normal full-fodder and 0.5 mL of Ganoderma triterpenoid solution (20 mg/mL) gavage. The chickens were euthanized at 20, 40, and 60 days, respectively, and the testes were harvested. The changes of cadmium contents, the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)), peroxide (malondialdehyde (MDA)), inflammatory factors (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)), and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3) were detected. The pathological sections of the testes were made at the same time. The results suggested that Ganoderma triterpenoids could reduce the accumulation of cadmium in testis tissue; reduce the content of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in cadmium poisoning testis; significantly increase the activity of SOD and GSH-Px; decrease the content of MDA; regulate the expression of Bax, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2; and reduce the damage of testicular tissue. The results showed that Ganoderma triterpenoids have a protective effect on cadmium-induced testicular injury in chicken.