Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known testicular toxicant. This study was designed to explore the long-term effects of a single low dose of Cd on spermatogenesis, and testicular dysfunction and oxidative stress, and the therapeutic potential of date palm pollen extract (DPP) in averting such reproductive damage. Adult male Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of CdCl₂ (0 or 1 mg kg⁻¹). Twenty-four hours later, they started receiving DPP (0 or 40 mg kg⁻¹) orally, once daily for 56 consecutive days. Cd exposure caused significant reproductive damage via reduced weight of the reproductive organs, which includes spermatological damage (decreased sperm count and motility and increased rates of sperm abnormalities), increased oxidative stress (increased malondialdehyde and decreased reduced glutathione levels), histological alterations (necrosis, inefficient to completely arrest spermatogenesis and a reduced Johnsen's score) and decreased serum testosterone level. DPP restored spermatogenesis and attenuated the toxic effects of Cd on the reproductive system to the levels observed in the control animals. These findings support the hypothesis that the testis is particularly sensitive to Cd, which can cause testicular damage and infertility. Treatment with DPP can ameliorate the deleterious effects of Cd, probably by activating testicular endocrine and antioxidant systems.

The mechanisms of lead (Pb) toxicity involved in the pathogenesis of spermatogenesis have not been clearly elucidated. Thereby, the present work was conducted to investigate the toxic effects of Pb on the pituitary-testicular axis, and endocrine and exocrine testicular functions. Two groups of male Wister rats (30 days old), each consisting of 15 rats, were used. The first group received sodium acetate (control group), while the second group received drinking water containing 0.1% lead acetate (PbAc) (PbAc-treated group) for successive 60 days. At the end of the experiment, the toxic effects of Pb were assessed on the basis of metal, hormonal, and histopathological evaluations. In PbAc-exposed rats, blood Pb level exceeded 22 µg dL⁻¹ with a simultaneous drop in plasma testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels by 46%. Collectively, the secretion of testosterone by Leydig cells and epididymal sperm count were reduced by 34 and 13%, respectively. Morphologically, the degeneration of germinal epithelium and sloughing of germ cells into the lumen, and fewer individual pyknotic germ cells of seminiferous tubules were seen. In conclusion, it appears that the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is the major target of Pb. However, the direct toxic action of Pb on the interstitial and Sertoli cells cannot be excluded.