Simultaneous effect of lead and cadmium on granulosa cells: a cellular model for ovarian toxicity

Reprod Toxicol. 2006 Feb;21(2):179-85. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2005.07.010. Epub 2005 Sep 12.

Abstract

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are known reproductive toxicants, which accumulate in granulosa cells of the ovary. Female Charles foster rats were treated with sodium acetate (control), lead acetate and cadmium acetate either alone or in combination at a dose 0.05 mg/kg body weight intra-peritoneally for 15 days daily. Animals were killed at proestrous stage and granulosa cells were isolated from the ovaries. Binding of (125)I-luteinizing hormone ((125)I-LH), (125)I-follicle stimulating hormone ((125)I-FSH) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity were measured. As these receptors are localized on the surface of the cell membrane, we also estimated the membrane parameters of these cells. Our results demonstrated that both lead and cadmium caused a significant reduction in gonadotropin binding, which altered steroidogenic enzyme activity of granulosa cells. These changes exhibited a positive correlation with membrane changes of the granulosa cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cadmium / analysis
  • Cadmium / metabolism
  • Cadmium Poisoning / pathology*
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Granulosa Cells / drug effects
  • Granulosa Cells / pathology*
  • Lead / analysis
  • Lead / metabolism
  • Lead Poisoning / pathology*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Membrane Fluidity
  • Ovarian Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Ovarian Diseases / pathology
  • Phospholipids / blood
  • Rats
  • Receptors, FSH / metabolism
  • Receptors, LH / metabolism
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / metabolism
  • Steroids / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Phospholipids
  • Receptors, FSH
  • Receptors, LH
  • Steroids
  • Cadmium
  • Lead
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • Cholesterol
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase