The testes in cadmium intoxication: morphological and vascular aspects

Cadmium toxicity was tested on young male Wistar rats by injecting 1 mg/ml of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) intra-peritoneally. Post-mortem examination was done 4 hours, 24 hours and 14 days after cadmium administration to observe time-sequence cadmium-induced alterations in vascular permeability of the mesothelium in the pleura, peritoneum and tunica vaginals. This paper mainly reports the alterations observed in the testes. Vascular permeability was assessed by the colloidal carbon technique. Vascular labelling was evidenced as early as 4 hours after CdCl2, injection; 24 hours later severe oedema with leakage of particles to the interstitium and also into the tubules was patent. Fourteen days after CdCl2 administration atrophy of the testes with necrosis of the tubules, fibrosis of the interstitium and vascular thrombosis was found, compatible with chemical castration.