Subchronic Exposure to Cadmium Causes Persistent Changes in the Reproductive System in Female Wistar Rats

Table 1

Cycle phases and all cycle lengths following oral, subchronic CdCl₂, or 17β-estradiol (positive control) exposure and 90- and 180-day postexposure periods in comparison to controls.

Treatment	Dose (mg/kg b.w.)	Phase length (days)				Cycle length (days)	No. of extended cycles
		Proestrus	Estrus	Metaestrus	Diestrus
Group A (90-day exposure)
Pure control	0						0
Cd	0.09	1.2±0.1^a	^a	^a		^a	4
Cd	0.9				^a	^a	3
Cd	1.8		^a			^a	3
Cd	4.5	^a			^a		4
Oil control	0						0
Positive control	0.03	^a	^a		^a	^a	5
Group B (90-day exposure and 90-day postexposure periods)
Pure control	0						0
Cd	0.09		^a			^a	2
Cd	0.9		^a	^a			0
Cd	1.8						0
Cd	4.5						0
Oil control	0						0
Positive control	0.03						0
Group C (90-day exposure and 180-day postexposure periods)
Pure control	0						0
Cd	0.09		^a		^a	^a	3
Cd	0.9		^a		^a		1
Cd	1.8						0
Cd	4.5						0
Oil control	0				4.7±0.2		0
Positive control	0.03						1

All values are expressed as (). ^aSignificantly different from pure control ().