Mercury exposure and its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Mercury (Hg), a highly toxic environmental pollutant, shows harmfulness which still represents a big concern for human health, including hazards to fertility and pregnancy outcome. Research has shown that Hg could induce impairments in the reproductive function, cellular deformation of the Leydig cells and the seminiferous tubules, and testicular degeneration as well as abnormal menstrual cycles. Some studies investigated spontaneous abortion and complicated fertility outcome due to occupational Hg exposure. Moreover, there is a relation between inhaled Hg vapour and reproductive outcome. This MiniReview evaluates the hypothesis that exposure to Hg may increase the risk of reduced fertility, spontaneous abortion and congenital deficits or abnormalities.

Endocrine-Disrupting Air Pollutants and Their Effects on the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis

“…Cadmium and lead are two of metals for which inhalation is a significant exposure route. Other metals such as mercury may also effect fertility in women [127]; however, not as much research has focused on this metal. In humans, reduced sperm motility was associated with concentrations of Cd and Pb lower than the highest concentrations found in men with occupational and environmental exposure, respectively [83].…”

Protective effect of rutin on mercuric chloride‐induced reproductive damage in male rats

“…Khan et al (), who gave mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 ) orally to mice, reported that mercury caused a decrease in reproductive performance. Mercuric chloride reduces reproductive performance by causing cellular deformation and testicular degeneration in Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules (Bjorklund et al, ; Chowdhury & Arora, ). Mercury is a proxidant that causes oxidative stress (El‐Desoky et al, ; Ibrahim et al, ; Khan et al, ).…”

Effect of environmental factors on occurrence of male infertility

“…Organiczne i nieorganiczne związki rtęci mogą kumulo wać się w gruczołach endokrynnych: podwzgórzu, przy sadce mózgowej, nadnerczach, jądrach, jajnikach oraz tar czycy [33]. W populacji mężczyzn wśród skutków zdrowotnych nara żenia na ten pierwiastek najczęściej wymienia się impotencję oraz zmniejszenie liczby, obniżenie ruchliwości oraz niepra widłową morfologię plemników w ejakulacie, co stanowi bezpośrednią przyczynę zaburzeń płodności [18,34,35]. Zaburzenia te mogą być skutkiem wpływu rtęci na proces nekrozy oraz zaburzenie funkcji spermatocytów [18].…”