Time dependent effects of selenium on cadmium-induced acute mouse testicular damage

Twenty-four hr after a single subcutaneous injection of Cd (0.024 mmol/kg), the testis showed severe and widespread degeneration. The damage was accompanied by an increase of lipoperoxide and a decrease of glutathione in the testis. Se (0.048 mmol/kg) injections 2 hr before, at the same time, and 1 hr after the Cd injection, decreased the damage. In these groups, the level of glutathione and lipoperoxides was restored to the control level. With a Se injection 6 hr after the Cd injection, the preventive effect of Se was no longer found. In the testis in which Se injection alleviated the damage caused by Cd, the changes in Ca, Mg and Zn were also restored to the control level. Uptake of Cd into the testis was stimulated by the Se injection. However, the uptake still remained at a low level in the testis in which the Se preventive effect was not found. These results suggest that the preventive effect of Se against testicular Cd toxicity is dependent on the interval between Cd and Se injections.