Possible ameliorative effect of nano-chocolate fortified with zinc on the hepatic and testicular toxicity induced by cadmium on male Swiss albino mice: histopathological and histomorphometrical studies

Abstract Background Cadmium, as industrial pollutants considered as one of the most toxic environmental and most harmful heavy metals, was able to induce severe injury in several tissues. Results Intraperitoneal injection of cadmium (1.5 mg/kg bw) induced histopathological alterations in the architecture of both hepatic and testicular tissues as revealed by light microscope. It also induced histomorphometrical changes in the hepatic tissues, represented by a highly significant decrease in the area of hepatocyte; in the nucleus and ratio of nuclear/cytoplasm with a highly significant increase in the area of central vein; and in the testicular tissues with a highly significant decrease in the numbers of Leydig cells, height of germinal epithelium, and diameter of seminiferous tubule. Orally administrated of nano-chocolate fortified with zinc (200 mg/kg) resulted in marked improvement of the histopathological alterations and histomorphometrical changes induced by injection of cadmium in both the hepatic and the testicular tissues. Conclusion Oral administration of nano-chocolate fortified with zinc could suppress the toxicity of cadmium and combat tissue injury.