Endocrine-disruptive Activity of Cadmium on the IHistomorphology of the Uterus and Ovaries of Juvenile BALB/c Mice

Abstract

The endocrine-disruptive activity of cadmium (Cd) on the uterus and ovaries was studied in juvenile Balb/c mice. Thirty-two 28-day-old female mice weighing 5 to 10 g were randomly distributed among four treatment groups, namely: (1) NSS, given 0.1 ml natural saline solution / kg body wt., (2) ES, given 0.625 mg estradiol (Premarin), (3) LD, given 0.1 mg CdCly/kg body wt, and (4) HD, given 1 mg CdCly/kg body weight. The gonado-somatic ratio (GSR), number of mature and secondary follicles, uterine wet weight and endometrial lining thickness were the among parameters measured. Findings indicate that cadmium, similar to estrogen, causes mitogenic response in the uterus as exhibited by the increase in uterine wet weight and endometrium thickness, and induces maturation of ovaries in terms of follicle development among Cdadministered mice.