EFFECTS OF DITHIOCARBAMATES ON TESTICULAR TOXICITY IN RATS CAUSED BY ACUTE EXPOSURE TO CADMIUM

N-Benzyl-d-glucamine dithiocarbamate (BGD), N-p-isopropylbenzyl-d-glucamine dithiocarbamate (PBGD), and diethyldithiocarbamate (D (DED) were compared for their protective effects against the testicular toxicity in rats induced by acute exposure to cadmium. Rats were injected subcutaneously with 109CdCl2 (3 mg Cd and 74 kBq of 109Cd/kg) and 30 min later, they were injected intraperitoneally with the chelating agents (0.4 or 3 mmol/kg). Cadmium injection increased lipid peroxidation and concentrations of hemoglobin and Ca in the testes, decreased the testicular weight, and caused sterility. The treatment with BGD (0.4 mmol/kg) did not satisfactorily protect against the testicular toxicity of cadmium. The administration of PBGD or DED at a dose of 3 mmol/kg significantly prevented the increase in the lipid peroxidation and hemoglobin concentration in the testes, the decrease in the testicular weight, and the sterility caused by cadmium. PBGD and DED significantly decreased the cadmium concentration in the testes, but DED increased the cadmium concentration in the kidney and brain. Only DED significantly prevented the increase in the testicular Ca concentration after cadmium. These results indicate that PBGD and DED protect against the sterility caused by cadmium in rats and that the effect of DED to increase the brain level of cadmium is more dangerous than the lack of effect of PBGD to prevent the increase in the testicular Ca level. The protective effects of PBGD and DED against the cadmium-induced testicular toxicity presumably result from a decrease in the cadmium concentration in the testes. © 1992.