{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T11:14:45Z","timestamp":1789038885418,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":106,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,10]],"date-time":"2025-05-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746835200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"DCBS, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa","award":["14409018"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["14409018"]}]},{"name":"DCBS, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa","award":["CD.CBS.081.2023"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CD.CBS.081.2023"]}]},{"name":"DCBS, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa","award":["CONAHCYT"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CONAHCYT"]}]},{"name":"DCBS, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa","award":["1032291\/003797"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1032291\/003797"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Sperm maturation involves changes in plasma membrane glycosylation for fertilization. Cadmium (Cd) exerts a negative effect by disrupting testicular and epididymal function, altering antioxidant activity. Zinc (Zn) is an essential element known for its antioxidant properties, role in testosterone synthesis, and support of spermatogenesis. However, its effect on sperm membrane glycosylation, as well as endocrine and antioxidant activity, after exposure to Cd has remained unexplored. This study evaluated the impact of Zn on epididymal sperm glycosylation, endocrine activity, and antioxidant activity in Cd-exposed rats. Four groups of male Wistar rats were analyzed: control, Cd-exposed, Zn-supplemented, and Zn + Cd groups. On postnatal day 90, tissues and blood were collected for Zn and Cd quantification, testosterone levels, antioxidant activity, histological analysis, and sperm quality. The results showed that Cd concentration increased significantly, reduced testosterone levels, modified antioxidant activity, and caused structural damage in the epididymis. The Cd-exposed group showed disrupted glycosylation and distribution patterns and reduced sperm quality. The Zn + Cd group showed lower Cd accumulation, preserved testosterone levels, restored antioxidant activity, and preserved glycosylation patterns and sperm quality. This study highlights the protective role of Zn in mitigating Cd-induced reproductive toxicity, probably through the competitive inhibition of Cd uptake and antioxidant support, thereby preserving fertility.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26104589","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]],"date-time":"2025-05-12T10:58:07Z","timestamp":1747047487000},"page":"4589","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Early Zinc Supplementation Enhances Epididymal Sperm Glycosylation, Endocrine Activity, and Antioxidant Activity in Rats Exposed to Cadmium"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-6544-7176","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sergio","family":"Mar\u00edn de Jes\u00fas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctorado en Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas y de la Salud, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. Ferrocarril San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Leyes de Reforma 1\u00aa. Secci\u00f3n, Alcald\u00eda Iztapalapa, Ciudad de M\u00e9xico C.P. 09340, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0187-1994","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rosa Mar\u00eda","family":"Vigueras-Villase\u00f1or","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratorio de Biolog\u00eda de la Reproducci\u00f3n, Instituto Nacional de Pediatr\u00eda, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3700-Letra C, Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Coyoac\u00e1n, Ciudad de M\u00e9xico C.P. 04530, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0186-7338","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edith","family":"Cort\u00e9s-Barberena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Divisi\u00f3n de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas y de la Salud de la Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. Ferrocarril San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Leyes de Reforma 1\u00aa. Secci\u00f3n, Alcald\u00eda Iztapalapa, Ciudad de M\u00e9xico C.P. 09340, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1194-7633","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joel","family":"Hern\u00e1ndez-Rodr\u00edguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cuerpo Acad\u00e9mico en Quiropr\u00e1ctica, Universidad Estatal del Valle de Ecatepec, Av. Central s\/n, Esq. Leona Vicario, Col. Valle de An\u00e1huac, Secc. A, Ecatepec C.P. 55210, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sonia Guadalupe","family":"P\u00e9rez-Aguirre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctorado en Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas y de la Salud, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. Ferrocarril San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Leyes de Reforma 1\u00aa. Secci\u00f3n, Alcald\u00eda Iztapalapa, Ciudad de M\u00e9xico C.P. 09340, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sergio","family":"Montes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica Multidisciplinaria Reynosa-Aztl\u00e1n, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Tamaulipas, Calle 16 y Lago de Chapala, Col. Aztl\u00e1n, Reynosa C.P. 88740, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leticia","family":"Carrizales-Y\u00e1\u00f1ez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coordinaci\u00f3n de Innovaci\u00f3n y Aplicaci\u00f3n de la Ciencia y la Tecnolog\u00eda (CIACYT)-Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de San Luis Potos\u00ed, San Luis Potos\u00ed C.P. 78210, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Isabel","family":"Arrieta-Cruz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Investigaci\u00f3n B\u00e1sica, Instituto Nacional de Geriatr\u00eda, Secretaria de Salud, Ciudad de M\u00e9xico C.P. 10200, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6792-2187","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marcela","family":"Arteaga-Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinolog\u00eda Reproductiva, Departamento de Biolog\u00eda de la Reproducci\u00f3n, Divisi\u00f3n de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas y de la Salud de la Universidad Aut\u00f3noma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. Ferrocarril San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Leyes de Reforma 1\u00aa. Secci\u00f3n, Alcald\u00eda Iztapalapa, Ciudad de M\u00e9xico C.P. 09340, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1111\/andr.12320","article-title":"Molecular changes and signaling events occurring in spermatozoa during epididymal maturation","volume":"5","author":"Gervasi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Andrology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"651","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/deac015","article-title":"Sperm acquire epididymis-derived proteins through epididymosomes","volume":"37","author":"Barrachina","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hum. 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