The effects of cadmium chloride exposure on sperm functional parameters were evaluated on eight-week-old ICR-CD1 male mice administered with a single s.c. injection of 1, 2 and 3 mg CdCl(2)/kg bw. Groups of animals treated with each dose, as well as their respective controls, were sacrificed after 24h to detect short-term (acute) effects and after 35 days. Sperm cells were collected from the epididymis and several parameters of sperm quality and function were evaluated, namely density, morphology, motility, viability, mitochondrial function, acrosome integrity, together with DNA fragmentation assessed by the TUNEL assay. The short-term effects of cadmium chloride resulted in an increased fraction of sperm with abnormal morphology, premature acrosome reaction and reduced motility. Late term effects (after 35 days) included a drastic reduction of sperm cell numbers and sperm motility. An increase in DNA fragmentation was also detected.