Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Reproductive Health in Boys and Men

Abstract

Male reproductive health has declined as indicated by increasing rates of cryptorchidism, i.e., undescended testis, poor semen quality, low serum testosterone level, and testicular cancer. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been proposed to have a role in this finding. In utero exposure to antiandrogenic EDCs, particularly at a sensitive period of fetal testicular development, the so-called ‘masculinization programming window (MPW)’, can disturb testicular development and function. Low androgen effect during the MPW can cause both short- and long-term reproductive disorders. A concurrent exposure to EDCs may also affect testicular function or damage testicular cells. Evidence from animal studies supports the role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in development of male reproductive disorders. However, evidence from epidemiological studies is relatively mixed. In this article, we review the current literature that evaluated relationship between prenatal EDC exposures and anogenital distance, cryptorchidism, and congenital penile abnormality called hypospadias. We review also studies on the association between early life and postnatal EDC exposure and semen quality, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormone levels and testicular cancer.

Correlation Analysis of Genotypes and Phenotypes in Chinese Male Pediatric Patients With Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism

“…Two patients (patients 1 and 6) carried SALL1 and SPECC1L mutations at the same time, which are involved in syndromes including hypospadias, but the role of these two mutations in the two patients may need to be further studied. On the other hand, endocrine disrupters like pesticide could also increase the risk of hypospadias ( 46 ), the phenomenon of CHH complicated with hypospadias needs more observation and research.…”

Activin A and Sertoli Cells: Key to Fetal Testis Steroidogenesis

“…Best understood in rodent models, endocrine disruptor chemical exposures in the interval following sex determination and prior to birth have repeatedly been shown to increase the incidence of conditions including reduced anogenital distance, hypospadias, cryptorchidism and reduced germ cell numbers ( 13 – 15 ). These outcomes have been explored in data collected from boys and men, and from cultures of human fetal testes ( 16 – 18 ), with a growing understanding that not only exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals, which can also include common pharmaceuticals, may negatively impact fetal and postnatal development. These agents can alter steroid composition and levels and may thereby influence local events in the testis.…”

The environmental and occupational influence of pesticides on male fertility: A systematic review of human studies

“…Zamkowska et al 8 . showed consistency between semen parameter worsening and pyrethroids (PYRs) and organophosphates (OPs), while Rodprasert et al 9 . confirmed the effects of OPs and questioned those of organochlorines (OCs).…”

“…Subsequently, two other reviews dealing with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including some types of pesticides, were published. Zamkowska et al 8 showed consistency between semen parameter worsening and pyrethroids (PYRs) and organophosphates (OPs), while Rodprasert et al 9 confirmed the effects of OPs and questioned those of organochlorines (OCs).…”