COMPETITION OF CADMIUM FOR ZINC IN RAT TESTIS AND DORSOLATERAL PROSTATE

Abstract

Cadmium has been shown to produce acute destruction of testes and permanent sterility in male rats with doses which apparently do not damage other tissues. Since this testicular injury could be prevented, at least temporarily, by the simultaneous administration of large doses of zinc it appeared that cadmium was exerting its toxic effects by virtue of competition for essential sites normally occupied by zinc. The results of this paper show that the capacity of the testis and dorsolateral prostate to take up administered 65Zn is depressed by the presence of cadmium. Former studies have shown that in both testis and dorsolateral prostate the amount of 65Zn taken up is under hormonal (I.C.S.H. or androgen) control. In contrast the 65Zn uptake of the ventral prostate, which is not under I.C.S.H. or androgen control is not altered by the presence of cadmium. Cadmium does not interfere with the reproductive capacities of female rats, nor does it cause any alteration of 65Zn uptake by ovary or uterine tract tissues. In view of the selective interference of cadmium with 65Zn uptake of only testis and dorsolateral prostate, it appears that the zinc complexes of these two organs, both of which are under I.C.S.H. or androgen control, differ from the zinc complexes of other organs.