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The Co-Induced Effects of Molybdenum and Cadmium on the Trace Elements and the mRNA Expression Levels of CP and MT in Duck Testicles

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Abstract

To investigate the chronic toxicity of molybdenum (Mo) and cadmium (Cd) on the trace elements and the mRNA expression levels of ceruloplasmin (CP) and metallothionein (MT) in duck testicles, 120 healthy 11-day-old male ducks were randomly divided into six groups with 20 ducks in each group. Ducks were treated with the diet containing different dosages of Mo or Cd. The source of Mo and Cd was hexaammonium molybdate ([(NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O]) and cadmium sulfate (3CdSO4·8H2O), respectively, in this study. After being treated for 60 and 120 days, ten male birds in each group were randomly selected and euthanized and then testicles were aseptically collected for determining the mRNA expression levels of MT and CP, antioxidant indexes, and contents of trace elements in the testicle. In addition, testicle tissues at 120 days were subjected to histopathological analysis with the optical microscope. The results showed that co-exposure to Mo and Cd resulted in an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level while decrease in xanthine oxidase (XOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. The mRNA expression level of MT gene was upregulated while CP was decreased in combination groups. Contents of Mo, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) decreased in combined groups while Cd increased in Cd and combined groups at 120 days. Furthermore, severe congestion, low sperm count, and malformation were observed in low dietary of Mo combined with Cd group and high dietary of Mo combined with Cd group. Our results suggested that Mo and Cd might aggravate testicular degeneration synergistically through altering the mRNA expression levels of MT and CP, increasing lipid peroxidation through inhibiting related enzyme activities and disturbing homeostasis of trace elements in testicles. Interaction of Mo and Cd may have a synergistic effect on the testicular toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (31260625) and the training Plan for Young Scientists of Jiangxi province (No. 2014BCB23040, Nanchang, P. R. China). All authors thank all members of the team for their help in the experimental process in clinical veterinary medicine laboratory in the College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University. The authors thank Ziwei Zhang for correcting common errors in this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Animal Population Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agriculture University, No. 1101 Zhimin Avenue, Economic and Technological Development District, Nanchang, 330045, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China

    Bing Xia, Guoliang Hu, Liqi Wang, Huabin Cao & Caiying Zhang

  2. Nanchang Zoo, Nanchang, 330045, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China

    Hua Chen

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  1. Bing Xia
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  2. Hua Chen
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Correspondence to Huabin Cao or Caiying Zhang.

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Bing Xia and Hua Chen are equally the first authors.

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Xia, B., Chen, H., Hu, G. et al. The Co-Induced Effects of Molybdenum and Cadmium on the Trace Elements and the mRNA Expression Levels of CP and MT in Duck Testicles. Biol Trace Elem Res 169, 331–340 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0410-8

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