Figure 2.
Cadmium in water given ad libitum reduces sperm motility. Sperm motility was determined individually for the left and right cauda epididymes of each rat in the control group (n = 5) and the cadmium-exposed groups (5 mg/L, n = 5; 50 mg/L, n = 5; and 100 mg/L, n = 5). Data are presented as sperm motility of cadmium-treated rats as a percentage of that of control animals. A dose-dependent decrease in sperm motility was observed after exposure to cadmium for 4 wks (ANOVA, P < 0.007; H-S, P < 0.025 to P < 0.001). Sperm motility at 8 wks of cadmium treatment was lower than at 4 wks, and the effect of dose was no longer apparent (ANOVA, P = .239, not significant).