Host: The Japanese Society of Toxicology
Name : The 50th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Toxicology
Date : June 19, 2023 - June 21, 2023
Cadmium is one of the heavy metals in the environment that has been shown epidemiologically and experimentally to be toxic to the male reproductive system. Metallothionein, a metal-binding protein with high affinity for the essential trace elements such as zinc and copper, is known to has the ability to bind to the toxic metal cadmium as well, which contributes to adjustment of its toxicity. Four isoforms of metallothionein exist: metallothionein-I and -II are found throughout the body, metallothionein-III in the testes, brain, and kidneys, and metallothionein-IV in the tongue. Previous studies on cadmium toxicity have mainly focused on metallothionein -I and -II, and many reports have shown the protective effects of these molecules on cadmium toxicities, however, the role of metallothionein-III has not been fully investigated. To elucidate the mechanisms of cadmium-induced testicular toxicity, it is important to clarify the effects of different metallothionein isoforms on cadmium testicular toxicity. In this symposium, the role of metallothionein-III in cadmium-induced testicular toxicity will be presented.
