Zinc alleviates cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity via regulating ion homeostasis, metallothionein expression, and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense

Jing Liu; Ermeng Wang; Ziru Cheng; Yuan Gao; Chienmin Chen; Ru Jia; Zhi Luo; Lan Wang

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115188

Zinc alleviates cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity via regulating ion homeostasis, metallothionein expression, and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Jul 5:262:115188. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115188. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jing Liu¹, Ermeng Wang¹, Ziru Cheng¹, Yuan Gao¹, Chienmin Chen², Ru Jia¹, Zhi Luo¹, Lan Wang³

Affiliations

¹ School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China.
² Department of Environmental Resource Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan City 000700, Taiwan.
³ School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China. Electronic address: lanwang@sxu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37418865
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115188

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic environmental pollutant that harms male reproductive systems by lowering sperm quality, impairing spermatogenesis, and causing apoptosis. Although zinc (Zn) has been reported to alleviate Cd toxicity, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this work was to investigate the mitigating effects of Zn on Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. Cd exposure not only resulted in its accumulation but also in Zn deficiency, decreased sperm survival rate, poor sperm quality, altered ultrastructure, and increased apoptosis in the testis of the crabs. Morever, Cd exposure increased the expression and distribution of metallothionein (MT) in the testis. However, Zn supplementation effectively mitigated the aforementioned effects of Cd, as demonstrated by preventing Cd accumulation, increasing Zn bioavailability, alleviating apoptosis, increasing mitochondrial membrane potential, decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and restoring MT distribution. Moreover, Zn also significantly reduced the expression of apoptosis-related (p53, Bax, CytC, Apaf-1, Caspase-9, Caspase-3), metal transporter-related ZnT1, metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF1), and the gene and protein expression of MT, while increasing the expression of ZIP1 and Bcl-2 in the testis of Cd-treated crabs. In conclusion, Zn alleviates Cd-induced reproductive toxicity via regulating ion homeostasis, MT expression, and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the testis of S. henanense. The information obtained in this study may serve as the foundation for further investigation into the development of mitigation strategies for adverse ecological and human health outcomes associated with Cd contamination or poisoning.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cadmium; Metallothionein; Reproductive toxicity; Sinopotamon henanense; Zinc.