Protective effects of quercetin supplementation against short-term toxicity of cadmium-induced hematological impairment, hypothyroidism, and testicular disturbances in albino rats

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 26; no. 8; pp. 8202 - 8211
• Main Authors: Badr, Gehan M., Elsawy, Hany, Sedky, Azza, Eid, Rania, Ali, Awatef, Abdallah, Basem M., Alzahrani, Abdullah M., Abdel-Moneim, Ashraf M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-03-2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Animal tissues; Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Blood; Blood levels; Cadmium; Cadmium - toxicity; Cadmium chloride; Cadmium Chloride - pharmacology; Chronic toxicity; Dietary supplements; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Erythrocytes; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Follicle-stimulating hormone; Hazardous Substances - toxicity; Hematocrit; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Hormones; Hypothyroidism; Luteinizing hormone; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Protective Agents - pharmacology; Quercetin; Quercetin - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Research Article; Rodents; Sperm; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Testes; Testis - drug effects; Testosterone; Testosterone - blood; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; Toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Hematological markers; Thyroid hormones; Reproductive dysfunction; Cadmium chloride; Quercetin
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04276-1

The aim of this study was to evaluate the probable protective effect of quercetin (QUE) against cadmium (Cd)-induced sub-chronic toxicity in rats. Adult male rats were given either Cd (as cadmium chloride; 5 mg/kg) alone or in combination with QUE (50 mg/kg) daily for 4 weeks by oral gavage. At the end of the experimental period, Cd accumulation, and selected hematological, thyroid, and reproductive markers were assessed. Results revealed that Cd treatment significantly increased Cd concentrations in blood, thyroid gland, and testicular tissue of rats. Cd also caused a decline in hemoglobin content, hematocrit value, and total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts. Further, significant suppressions in the blood levels of hormones related to thyroid gland function, and male reproductive hormones (i.e., testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), were observed in Cd-treated rats compared to the control. In parallel, low sperm count and sperm motility, increased sperm abnormalities, and marked pathology occurred in testis. Combination with QUE recorded amelioration of the deleterious effects of Cd, involving regulation of hematological toxicity and thyroid hormonal levels and subsequently modulation of testicular function. In conclusion, it appears that dietary QUE can rescue from Cd-induced hematological dysfunctions and testicular damage by reversing the hypothyroid state.