Puberty is a transitional period from juvenile stage to adulthood, followed by the functional maturation of gonads and reproductive organs. This period is sensitive to environmental pollutants like cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal that represents a serious health risk. Cd is an endocrine disruptor that interferes with reproduction by causing oxidative stress in the reproductive organs, affecting the sexual function and decreasing testosterone (T) levels. However, little research has been done on the effects of Cd on puberty markers and antioxidant systems. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Cd on puberty markers: preputial separation, testes descent and T levels, and the antioxidant activity (SOD, CAT, GSH/GSSG and TAC) in the seminal vesicles, testis and epididymis. Male Wistar pups were treated with 1 mg/kg Cd or saline solution by i.p. injection from day 1 to 35; the other treatment was administrated for 49 days. At the end of treatment, the animals were sacrificed, and the tissues of interest dissected, weighed and prepared for the respective assays. Cd treated rats from birth to puberty showed a delay onset in the puberty markers and a low weight in reproductive organs. Also, Cd induced differential effects on the redox system in reproductive organs and decreased T levels, these effects played a pivotal role in the delay of puberty markers onset (testes descent and preputial separation), affecting the development and sexual maturity of the male rats.

青春期是从少年期到成年期的过渡期，随后是性腺和生殖器官的功能成熟。这个时期对环境污染物很敏感，比如镉 (Cd)，这是一种对健康构成严重威胁的重金属。镉是一种内分泌干扰物，通过在生殖器官中引起氧化应激、影响性功能和降低睾酮 (T) 水平来干扰生殖。然而，关于镉对青春期标志物和抗氧化系统的影响的研究很少。在这项研究中，我们评估了 Cd 对青春期标志物的影响：包皮分离、睾丸下降和 T 水平，以及精囊、睾丸和附睾的抗氧化活性（SOD、CAT、GSH/GSSG 和 TAC）。雄性 Wistar 幼崽通过 ip 用 1 mg/kg Cd 或盐水溶液处理 从第 1 天到第 35 天注射；另一种治疗给药49天。在治疗结束时，处死动物，解剖感兴趣的组织，称重并准备用于各自的测定。从出生到青春期接受镉治疗的大鼠表现出青春期标志物的延迟发作和生殖器官的低体重。此外，Cd 对生殖器官氧化还原系统的不同作用和 T 水平降低，这些作用在青春期标志物发生延迟（睾丸下降和包皮分离）中起关键作用，影响雄性大鼠的发育和性成熟。从出生到青春期接受镉治疗的大鼠表现出青春期标志物的延迟发作和生殖器官的低体重。此外，Cd 对生殖器官氧化还原系统的不同作用和 T 水平降低，这些作用在青春期标志物发生延迟（睾丸下降和包皮分离）中起关键作用，影响雄性大鼠的发育和性成熟。从出生到青春期接受镉治疗的大鼠表现出青春期标志物的延迟发作和生殖器官的低体重。此外，Cd 对生殖器官氧化还原系统的不同作用和 T 水平降低，这些作用在青春期标志物发生延迟（睾丸下降和包皮分离）中起关键作用，影响雄性大鼠的发育和性成熟。