EFECTO DE LA EXPOSICIÓN A CADMIO SOBRE EL METABOLISMO DE LÍPIDOS EN EL TESTÍCULO DE RATA

GONZALEZ UA, GATICA LV, ALVAREZ SM, GÓMEZ NN, GIMÉNEZ MS

Merlo, San Luis (Argentina)

Congreso; XXII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2004

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental toxicant implicated in human prostate carcinogenesis. The mechanism of its toxicity is far from fully understood. This study evaluates the effect of exposure to an oral non-carcinogenic Cd doses on different testicular lipid variables. Adult Wistar male rats were separated in three groups: a control group and two Cd-exposed groups that received 15 ppm (Cd15) and 100 ppm (Cd100) in the drinking water for 3 months. Testis content of triglycerides (TG) (Sardesai and Manning’s method), total (TC), free (FC) and esterified cholesterol (EC) (Zack’s method), total phospholipids (TP) (according to Rausser et al) and proteins (Biuret method) were measured. Diacylglycerol-acyl transferase –2 (DGAT2) was determined by RT-PCR. The bands were quantified using the software program Scion Image from NIH and were normalized using the values obtained for beta-actin. Results of lipid contents showed a decrease of TG in Cd15 and Cd100 (p < 0.05); an increase of TP in Cd15 (p < 0.005) and Cd100 (p < 0.05). The levels of FC and EC were not modified in Cd15 compared with control, but those of Cd100 increased significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.005, respectively). The content of DGAT2 mRNA did not change compared with control. Cd exposure for 3 months induces significant changes in testicular lipid metabolism with Cd at both 15 and 100 ppm.