Single subcutaneous injection of 1 or 5 mg cadmiun chloride (CdCl2) to adult male rats resulted in a significant reduction in the weights of the testis, epididymidis, vas deferens, ventral prostate and seminal vesicles. Sperm population in the vas deferens, caput and cauda epididymidis was severely reduced. Sexual drive and fertility were not changed 7 or 15 days after treatment with 1 mg CdCl2; however, a loss of libido to total sterility were encountered in animals receiving 5 mg CdCl2. The circulating testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone were suppressed whereas androstenedione concentration remained unaltered. It appears that CdCl2 not only affects spermatogenesis but also inhibits androgen production.
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Saksena et al. (1977) studied this question.