Selenium and Cadmium Tissue Concentrations and the CASA Sperm Motility Analysis after Administration to Rats

Abstract

The accumulation of Selenium (Se) and Cadmium (Cd) and their effects on sperm motility parameters in rats were investigated. Male rats were dosed with Cd (group A: 2 mg kg^-1 b.w., intraperitoneally, group B: 30 mg L^-1, per os in drinking water) and Se (group D: 2 mg kg^-1 b.w., intraperitoneally, group E: 5 mg L^-1, per os in drinking water). 36 h after an intraperitoneal (i.p.) and after 90 days of per oral (p.o.) administration of Cd and Se, the samples of liver, kidney, adipose tissue and muscle tissue (m. quadriceps femoris) were collected and content of Cd was analyzed using an Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS) and Se using a Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HG-AAS) methods. Sperm motility parameters were performed using a Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) method. A significant increase in Cd (p<0.0001) and Se (p<0.01) in liver, Cd (p<0.05) in kidney and adipose tissue and Cd (p<0.0001) and Se (p<0.01) in muscle tissue were found after an i.p. administration of Cd. After the per oral Cd administration, increases in Cd (p<0.0001) in liver, Cd and Se (p<0.0001) in kidney, Se in adipose tissue (p<0.05) and in muscle tissue (p<0.0001) contents were observed. In group D, increase in Se in liver and kidney (p<0.0001), in muscle (p<0.05) and the decrease in kidney Cd contents (p<0.0001) were found. Significant increase in Se in liver, kidney, adipose tissue (p<0.0001) and in muscle (p<0.01) contents were recorded in group E. All evaluated sperm motility parameters significantly decreased in groups B, D and E. Intraperitoneal administration of Cd caused the significant decrease in the motility (p<0.01), progressive motility (p<0.001), Straightness (STR) and Beat-Cross Frequency (BCF) (p<0.05) in exposed males. The concentration of selenium in tissues changes in relation to cadmium intake and vice-versa. Increased intake of Se negatively affects the sperm motility. Cd intake affected the sperm motility more significantly after a per oral administration than that exposed intraperitoneally. Both elements can increase their levels in the organism and it can result to symptoms of reduced male fertility or infertility.