Background: Cadmium is an essential component of industrial and non-industrial materials including foods, water, drinks and cigarettes. Reports have shown the teratogenic effects of cadmium, thus the present study was carried out with the aim of determining the effects of cadmium chloride on cochlear development in male mouse fetus.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 30 male mouse fetuses of Balb/c race were included. Samples were divided in three groups of control, Experiment I and Experiment II. Experiment groups have received cadmium chloride with the dosage of 3 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg intra-peritonealy at the 9th day of pregnancy, respectively. The control group received distilled water. Six days later, mice were killed by ether and their fetuses were removed and kept in fixative. Finally, specimens were prepared and stained by H&E. Results were analyzed using ANOVA and scheffe tests.

Results: Cochlear surface was significantly reduced in Experiments groups comparing to the control (P<0.05), meanwhile the spiral ganglion surface was significantly reduced, too (P<0.01 and P<0.003). The cochlear diameter has not differed among the groups (NS). The organ of corti in Experiment II group was smaller than that of control group (P<0.02).

Conclusion: Cadmium chloride can cause degenerative changes on cochlear development of mouse fetus. Further studies regarding the effects of cadmium chloride on neural tube deformity and hearing dysfunction are strongly recommended.