Differential Susceptibility of Germ and Leydig Cells to Cadmium-Mediated Toxicity: Impact on Testis Structure, Adiponectin Levels, and Steroidogenesis

Figure 5

Representative microscopic images of the intertubular compartment in the testis from control rats and those exposed to cadmium (Cd). Control (CT): 0.9% saline; Cd1: 0.67 mg Cd/kg; Cd2: 0.74 mg Cd/kg; Cd3: 0.86 mg Cd/kg; and Cd4: 1.1 mg Cd/kg. In CT, well-defined intertubular structure with reduced cellularity and evident blood and lymphatic vessels is observed. In Cd1 to Cd4, dose-dependent damage is evident. In Cd-intoxicated animals, abnormal nuclear morphology in interstitial cells (Cd1, highlighted image), vascular congestion (Cd2 and Cd3), hemorrhage (Cd4a), and mast cell accumulation (Cd4b) were the main histopathological findings. The images of Cd4a and Cd4b indicate different and complementary morphological aspects of the same group of animals (Cd4). Arrows: blood vessels; arrowheads: leucocytes with marginal interaction; asterisk: Leydig cells; Hm: hemorrhagic foci; MØ: macrophages; L: lymphocytes; Ma: mast cells.