Publisher: Archives of Razi Institute
Title: Effect of Heavy Metals (Mercury, Lead, and Cyanide) Present in the Osun River on the Testes of Male Wistar Rats
Author: Adeleke S.O, Oni T.A, Adunfe O.O, Adeyemi B.S, Akindehin O.A, Adeeyo O.A
Date of Publication: 2025
Type: Research Paper / Experimental Study
Volume: Not provided
Citation style language: CSR style
Pollution Type:

• Heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic)

• Cyanide contamination

• Chemical pollution from illegal/unregulated gold mining
  
  

Impact Dimension:

• Testicular damage (seminiferous tubule disorganization, altered spermatogenesis)

• Reduced sperm count/motility/viability

• Hormonal imbalance (lower testosterone)

• Renal/neurological effects (mercury)

• Neurodevelopmental risks (lead)

• Oxidative stress (cyanide)

• Endocrine disruption and infertility
  
  

Actor Type:

• Illegal/unregulated gold mining (artisanal/small-scale)

• Industrial/agricultural/domestic activities
  
  

Response Type:

• Environmental contamination mitigation

• Ongoing monitoring and regulation

• Public health interventions

• Exposure reduction strategies

Evidence Type:

• Experimental rat study (30 male Wistar rats, 6 groups)

• Oral administration of contaminants/Osun water (4 weeks)

• qPCR gene expression (AKAP4, PRM1, PRM2)

• Serum testosterone ELISA

• Sperm analysis (count, motility, morphology)

• Histology (H&E-stained testicular tissue)

• Statistical analysis (ANOVA, Tukey’s test)
  
  

     Policy Mention: Necessity of monitoring, regulation, and public health interventions
    Key Finding:

• Heavy metals/cyanide cause dose-dependent testicular damage

• Significant decrease in spermatogenesis genes (AKAP4/PRM1/PRM2)

• Lower serum testosterone across exposed groups

• Reduced sperm count/motility/normal morphology

• Histological damage: seminiferous tubule degeneration, disrupted germinal epithelium

• Osun River water group showed synergistic toxicity
  
  

Health Risk Projection:

• Reproductive risks: Testicular atrophy, endocrine disruption, infertility

• Mercury: Renal/neurological damage

• Lead: Neurodevelopmental impairment (children)

• Cyanide: Cellular hypoxia, organ failure

• Wildlife/human health hazards from contaminated water
  
  

URL: https://doi.org/10.22092/ari.2025.368256.3497
DOI: 10.22092/ari.2025.368256.3497
ISBN, ISSN, PMID: Not provided