Cadmium reduces growth of male fetuses by impairing development of the placental vasculature and reducing expression of nutrient transporters

Testicular dysfunction and "its recovery effect" after cadmium exposure

In recent years, with the acceleration of industrialization, the decline of male fertility caused by heavy metal pollution has attracted much attention. However, whether the inhibition of testicular function after cadmium exposure is reversible remains to be studied. In this study, we constructed rat models of cadmium exposure and dis-exposure, and collected relative samples to observe the changes of related indicators. The results showed that cadmium exposure could reduce the fertility, inhibit the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis and activate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, the testicular GR/PI3K-AKT/AMPK signal was abnormal, cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis was enhanced. Four weeks after the exposure was stopped, the fertility was still decreased, testicular testosterone synthesis and spermatogenesis were inhibited, cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis was enhanced, but all of them were reversed. After eight weeks of cadmium exposure, the above indicators were observed to return to normal. At the same time, by giving different concentrations of corticosterone to spermatogonium, we confirmed that corticosterone may regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of spermatogonium through GR/PI3K-AKT/AMPK signal. In this study, the reproductive toxicity of cadmium, a metal environmental pollutant, was analyzed in depth to provide a new theoretical and experimental basis for ensuring male reproductive health.

An integrative data-centric approach to derivation and characterization of an adverse outcome pathway network for cadmium-induced toxicity

Cadmium is a prominent toxic heavy metal that contaminates both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Owing to its high biological half-life and low excretion rates, cadmium causes a variety of adverse biological outcomes. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) networks were envisioned to systematically capture toxicological information to enable risk assessment and chemical regulation. Here, we leveraged AOP-Wiki and integrated heterogeneous data from four other exposome-relevant resources to build the first AOP network relevant for inorganic cadmium-induced toxicity. From AOP-Wiki, we filtered 309 high confidence AOPs, identified 312 key events (KEs) associated with inorganic cadmium from five exposome-relevant databases using a data-centric approach, and thereafter, curated 30 cadmium relevant AOPs (cadmium-AOPs). By constructing the undirected AOP network, we identified a large connected component of 18 cadmium-AOPs. Further, we analyzed the directed network of 59 KEs and 82 key event relationships (KERs) in the largest component using graph-theoretic approaches. Subsequently, we mined published literature using artificial intelligence-based tools to provide auxiliary evidence of cadmium association for all KEs in the largest component. Finally, we performed case studies to verify the rationality of cadmium-induced toxicity in humans and aquatic species. Overall, cadmium-AOP network constructed in this study will aid ongoing research in systems toxicology and chemical exposome.

Potential pathological mechanisms and pharmacological interventions for cadmium-induced miscarriage

The prevalence of cadmium (Cd) contamination has emerged as a significant global concern. Exposure to Cd during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive summaries on Cd-induced miscarriage. Therefore, it is imperative to further strengthen research into in vivo studies, clinical status, pathological mechanisms, and pharmacological interventions for Cd-induced miscarriage. This study systematically presents the current knowledge on animal models and clinical trials investigating Cd exposure-induced miscarriage. The underlying mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and placental dysfunction caused by Cd-induced miscarriage are also extensively discussed. Additionally, potential drug interventions such as melatonin, vitamin C, and vitamin E are highlighted for their pharmacological role in mitigating adverse pregnancy outcomes induced by Cd.

Kindergarten dust heavy metal(loid) exposure associates with growth retardation in children

Heavy metal contamination from electronic waste recycling sites is present in dust found in indoor kindergartens located in e-waste recycling areas, and its potential impact on child health is a significant concern. The association between heavy metal(loid)s and the child developmental indicators is still unclear. In 2019 and 2020, we enrolled 325 and 319 children in an e-waste recycling town, respectively. Corresponding 61 and 121 dust samples were collected from roads, houses, and kindergartens in the two years. The median concentrations of metals, including Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb exceeded the allowable limits. The highest amount of cumulative enrichment (cEF) was observed in indoor kindergarten dust (cEF = 112.3400), followed by house dust (cEF = 76.6950) and road dust (cEF = 39.7700). Children residing in the e-waste town had below-average height and weight compared to their Chinese peers. Based on linear regression analysis, the daily intake of Cd, V, Mn, and Pb in indoor kindergarten dust was found to be negatively associated with head circumference (HeC) (P < 0.05). Similarly, the daily intake of As, Cd, and Ba in indoor kindergarten dust was found to be negatively associated with chest circumference (ChC) (P < 0.05). In addition, the daily intake of As, Cd, and Ba in indoor kindergarten dust was negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI), as per the results of the study (P < 0.05). Cross-product term analysis revealed a negative correlation between daily intake of heavy metal(loid)s and HeC, ChC, and BMI, with age and sex serving as influencing factors. In conclusion, exposure to heavy metal(loid)s in indoor kindergarten dust increases the risk of growth retardation and developmental delay in children.