Morphine role against cadmium-induced testicular damage in rats

ABSTRACT

The effects of cadmium upon the testis, kidney and spleen were investigated in rats which injected subcutaneously with cadmium chloride [7 mg/kg b. wt]. Twenty-four hours post injection, the animals were sacrificed and the testes, kidneys and spleens were removed and weighed. The extent of hemorrhage was estimated by determining the absorbance of hemoglobin at 414 nanometer in the soluble fraction of organ homogenates. Exposure to cadmium increased the hemoglobin absorbance of the tests from 0.18 +/- 0.03 to 0.71 +/- 0.08. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with morphine sulphate [20 mg/kg b. wt.] greatly provoked the cadmium-induced testicular hemorrhage. Cadmium induced a moderate leucocytosis, while the hemoglobin%, PCV and RBCs count were not affected. It was concluded that morphine can protect against certain toxic effects of cadmium