Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on gonad development: Mechanistic insights from fish and mammals

The hypothalamic–pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis plays a crucial and integrative role in the mammalian endocrine regulation to maintain homeostasis. The HPG axis is primarily responsible for governing all the hormonal events related to reproductive activity. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) comprise a diverse group of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds that mimic and interfere with the endogenous chemical hormones. Epidemiological investigations have shown increasing evidence of altered development and detrimental effects on reproductive health during the past 50 years associated with endocrine disruptors affecting the HPG axis. The pleiotropic harmful effects of EDCs act through hormone-dependent downstream signaling pathways responsible for gonad development either through direct interaction with steroid hormone receptor or via epigenetic regulation. Hence, this chapter summarizes the biological plausibility of EDCs exposure and elucidates the mechanism of action underlying EDCs affecting the regulatory circuits of the mammalian HPG axis and reproductive function.

Download Full-text

Evaluating the Effects of Bisphenols F and S with Respect to Bisphenol A on Primordial Germ Cell Migration in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos Using Immunofluorescence Microscopy

American Journal of Undergraduate Research ◽

10.33697/ajur.2019.031 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 69-77

Author(s):

Siti Safura ◽

George Roba ◽

Edward Freeman

Keyword(s):

Bisphenol A ◽

Sex Determination ◽

Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽

Primordial Germ Cell ◽

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽

Gonad Development ◽

Zebrafish Embryos ◽

Bisphenol S ◽

Bisphenol F ◽

Endocrine Disrupting

Primordial Germ Cell (PGC) migration occurs in early embryonic development and is highly conserved across taxa. PGC migration occurs within the first 24 hours post fertilization (hpf) in zebrafish, making the organism an efficient model for observing the migration pathway. Proper PGC migration is necessary for normal gonad development and, in some species, sex determination. Disruption of this process leads to defects in gonad formation and abnormal sex determination and differentiation. Studies show that endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) disrupt PGC migration in zebrafish. BPA is an estrogenic compound that has been linked to a variety of human diseases, including various cancers, diabetes, reproductive disorders, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. It is one of the most widely used synthetic compounds worldwide, as it used to make polycarbonate plastics. Many studies provide evidence of the harmful effects of BPA on living organisms. In response, manufacturers have started to use replacements such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS). However, due to their structural similarity, it is likely that BPF and BPS are just as harmful to organisms as BPA. In this study, we use antibody staining and immunofluorescence microscopy to confirm that BPA exposure results in abnormal PGC migration in zebrafish embryos, as previously studied, and to illustrate that BPF and BPS exposure results in similar PGC migration defects. KEYWORDS: Zebrafish; Zebrafish Embryos; Primordial Germ Cells; PGC Migration; Gonad Development; Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals; Bisphenol A; Bisphenol S; Bisphenol F; Sex Determination

Download Full-text

The mosaic effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals mixtures on thyroid hormone levels: experimental study

Endocrine Abstracts ◽

10.1530/endoabs.70.oc8.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aleksandra Buha ◽

Vesna Milovanovic ◽

Zorica Bulat ◽

Biljana Antonijevic

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Thyroid Hormone ◽

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽

Hormone Levels ◽

Endocrine Disrupting ◽

Thyroid Hormone Levels

Download Full-text

Exposure to Indoor Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Childhood Asthma and Obesity

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2020-023861u ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 146 (Supplement 4) ◽

pp. S333.1-S333

Author(s):

Stuart L. Abramson

Keyword(s):

Childhood Asthma ◽

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽

Endocrine Disrupting

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Sex-specific enhanced behavioral toxicity induced by maternal exposure to a mixture of low dose endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.725254111.793504008 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Martin van den Berg ◽

Milou Dingemans

Keyword(s):

Low Dose ◽

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽

Maternal Exposure ◽

Behavioral Toxicity ◽

Endocrine Disrupting

Download Full-text

Effect of Polyphosphate on Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals of Nonylphenol and Bisphenol-A by Activated Carbons

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2005.052 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 484-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Keun J. Choi ◽

Sang G. Kim ◽

Chang W. Kim ◽

Seung H. Kim

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Bisphenol A ◽

Surface Charge ◽

Activated Carbons ◽

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽

Dipole Interaction ◽

High Affinity ◽

Calcium Polyphosphate ◽

Endocrine Disrupting ◽

Positively Charged

Abstract This study examined the effect of polyphosphate on removal of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as nonylphenol and bisphenol-A by activated carbons. It was found that polyphosphate aided in the removal of nonylphenol and bisphenol- A. Polyphosphate reacted with nonylphenol, likely through dipole-dipole interaction, which then improved the nonylphenol removal. Calcium interfered with this reaction by causing competition. It was found that polyphosphate could accumulate on carbon while treating a river. The accumulated polyphosphate then aided nonylphenol removal. The extent of accumulation was dependent on the type of carbon. The accumulation occurred more extensively with the wood-based used carbon than with the coal-based used carbon due to the surface charge of the carbon. The negatively charged wood-based carbon attracted the positively charged calcium-polyphosphate complex more strongly than the uncharged coal-based carbon. The polyphosphate-coated activated carbon was also effective in nonylphenol removal. The effect was different depending on the type of carbon. Polyphosphate readily attached onto the wood-based carbon due to its high affinity for polyphosphate. The attached polyphosphate then improved the nonylphenol removal. However, the coating failed to attach polyphosphate onto the coal-based carbon. The nonylphenol removal performance of the coal-based carbon remained unchanged after the polyphosphate coating.

Download Full-text