Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal found in industrial emissions and cigarette smoke, has long been linked to reproductive toxicity. Cadmium is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that mimics essential metals such as calcium and zinc, interfering with hormone signalling. 

Santiago-Andres et al. have now revealed that this pollutant directly disrupts the pituitary gland. They exposed adult male mice to cadmium, and monitored the effects on gonadotrophs and testicular function. They discovered that cadmium accumulates in the pituitary, where it alters calcium signalling, affecting hormone secretion. Gonadotroph responsiveness to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone decreases initially but, with prolonged exposure, calcium oscillation patterns shift, and gonadotrophin secretion rises, suggesting persistent intracellular signalling disruption. Downstream cadmium exposure also resulted in testicular atrophy, increased apoptosis, and reduced sperm count. A decline in testosterone concentration was observed while the gonadotroph population increased, highlighting an imbalance in endocrine regulation. 

The study suggests that cadmium drives reproductive toxicity through both direct testicular damage and altered gonadotroph calcium signalling, resulting in hormone imbalance and testicular dysfunction which should be highlighted as a public health concern.

Read the full article in Journal of Endocrinology https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-25-0161