The Bisphenols Found in the Ejaculate of Men Does Not Pass through the Testes

Abstract

Exposure to bisphenols is related to negative effects on male reproduction. The bisphenols exposure is associated with several modes of action including negative impact on the blood–testis barrier (BTB) in testes or direct effect on spermatozoa. Bisphenols have been detected in human seminal plasma, but the possible mechanism of seminal transfer of bisphenols is not clear. Some authors consider the transfer through the blood–testis barrier to be crucial. Therefore, in this work, we compared normozoospermic men and men after vasectomy who have interrupted vas deferens and their ejaculate does not contain testicular products. We measured the concentration of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) in the urine and seminal plasma of these men using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MSMS). We found that the ratio of urinary and seminal plasma content of bisphenols did not differ in normozoospermic men or men after vasectomy. From the obtained data, it can be concluded that the pathways of transport of bisphenols into seminal plasma are not primarily through the testicular tissue, but this pathway is applied similarly to other routes of transmission by a corresponding ejaculate volume ratio. To a much greater extent than through testicular tissue, bisphenols enter the seminal plasma mainly as part of the secretions of the accessory glands.

From Oxidative Stress to Male Infertility: Review of the Associations of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (Bisphenols, Phthalates, and Parabens) with Human Semen Quality

“…It was concluded that BPs are predominantly transported into seminal plasma not through testicular tissue, but through comparable ejaculate volume ratios that are applied similarly to other routes of transmission. Toxic bisphenols mostly reach the seminal plasma through the secretions of accessory glands and do so to a far greater extent than through testicular tissue [ 75 ].…”

Impact of Extended and Combined Exposure of Bisphenol Compounds on Their Chromosome-Damaging Effect─Increased Potency and Shifted Mode of Action

“…Moreover, mutations (clastogenesis and aneugenesis being included) in germ cells are a major cause of human reproductive failure . BPs have been reported to disrupt the blood–testis barrier, which normally functions to protect the spermatogenesis from chemical interference, , and BPs have been detected in the seminal plasma. , Meanwhile, as a major component of the blood–testis barrier Sertoli cells express CYP1A1, which makes it possible for BPs to experience metabolic activation in the place of spermatogenesis and exert clastogenicity in sperm cells.…”

The bisphenol S contamination level observed in human follicular fluid affects the development of porcine oocytes

“…The small number of existing studies related to BPS effects in very low doses was based on BPS concentrations measured mostly in human urine (up to 6.7 ng/mL), serum (0.15 ng/mL), or seminal plasma (up to 0.85 ng/mL) ( Thayer et al, 2016 ; Jin et al, 2018 ; Smarr et al, 2018 ; Ješeta et al, 2022 ). The only study that confirmed the presence of BPS in follicular fluid (FF) was aimed at investigating its effect on somatic cells ( Amar et al, 2020 ).…”