scholarly journals The influence of perinatal and current dioxin and PCB exposure on reproductive parameters (sex-ratio, menstrual cycle characteristics, endometriosis, semen quality, and prematurity): a review

Biomonitoring ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Leijs ◽  
L.M. van der Linden ◽  
J.G. Koppe ◽  
K. Olie ◽  
W.M.C. van Aalderen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Menstrual Cycles ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Dioxin Exposure ◽  
Pcb Exposure

AbstractPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins (PCDDs/Fs) are well-known endocrine disrupters. This paper strives to elucidate the data on reproductive consequences of perinatal dioxin and PCB exposure in men and women. We focused on the following end-points: sex-ratio, endometriosis, menstrual cycle characteristics, sperm quality, and prematurity. We summarize 46 papers and compare their results including effects seen after exposure to background concentrations. Seven of twelve studies showed a decrease in sex-ratio after parental dioxin or PCB exposure. In three of the seven studies, effects were seen after paternal exposure and in three after maternal exposure. In eight of the nine studies on menstrual cycle characteristics, abnormalities were associated with PCB or dioxin exposure, however the results differed. In three studies PCB and TCDD were associated with longer menstrual cycles, while three studies indicated that an increase in PCB/PCDF exposure was associated with shorter cycles. Five studies showed effects on menstrual bleeding with higher PCB or dioxin exposure. A higher rate of irregular menstrual cycles in exposed women was seen in four studies. The conflicting outcomes probably result from variability in study design, timing of exposure and endocrine disrupting properties of the measured congeners. Nine of sixteen studies detected higher PCB or dioxin exposure in women with endometriosis. However, the manner of diagnosing endometriosis and the character of the studies varied from prospective to retrospective. Five of eight studies focusing on sperm quality showed that men, with higher serum concentrations of PCBs and/or PCB congeners and/or PCDFs, had reduced sperm quality, including increased abnormal morphology and reduced motility. The exposure timeframe seemed important here. There are two studies addressing preterm birth in relation to PCBs, one mentioned a shortening of three days of gestational age, two other studies did not find a relation. Recently one study related a shorter gestational age of half a week with overall dioxin activity measured with the CALUX method in cord blood, particularly in boys. In conclusion, exposure to PCBs and dioxins has a negative effect on the reproductive systems of human populations. Although some speculations have been made, the exact mechanism of these effects and the interactions of these compounds with other endocrine disruptors are not yet known. Age at exposure and congener specific properties are probably crucial in interpreting the observed results.

scholarly journals Secular variations in sperm quality: fact or science fiction?

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Multigner ◽  
Alejandro Oliva
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Homogeneous Groups ◽  
Secular Variations

The debate concerning the possible degradation in human sperm quality began in the 1970s, was revived at the beginning of the 1990s and has continued to mobilize the scientific community ever since. After the meta-analysis by Carlsen et al. (1992) showing a decline in human semen quality over the last 50 years, several groups investigated the sperm characteristics of more or less homogeneous groups of men who had provided semen at the same center for 10 to 20 years. A significant decrease in sperm concentration was reported in some studies, but not in others. Meanwhile, there is an increasing number of reports suggesting that physical and chemical factors introduced and spread by human activity in the environment may have contributed to sperm decline. At the end of the 20th century the debate on declining semen quality is not closed. The lack of certainty and the serious consequences that such a decline would have on the fertility of human populations make this an important public health issue at the start of the 21st century. For this reason, intensive research should be developed in both fundamental and epidemiological domains, particularly in South America, where industrial and agricultural pollution pose a serious threat to the population.

scholarly journals The influence of perinatal and current dioxin and PCB exposure on puberty: a review

Biomonitoring ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M. Leijs ◽  
L.M. van der Linden ◽  
J.G. Koppe ◽  
P. de Voogt ◽  
K. Olie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pubic Hair ◽  
Sex Hormone ◽  
Breast Development ◽  
Ah Receptor ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Penile Length ◽  
Hormonal Balance ◽  
Hormone Homeostasis ◽  
Dioxin Exposure ◽  
Pcb Exposure

AbstractOver the last two decades much has been written about the consequences of perinatal dioxin and PCB exposure in humans. In this paper we strive to elucidate the data on puberty in relation to these endocrine disruptive compounds in human populations. Effects in PCB/dioxin-exposed human populations on puberty are seen, not only in highly exposed cohorts, but also in average populations with background exposures. Study showed effects like increased weight, a delay in pubic hair growth and male genital development in boys, sex-hormone homeostasis, reduced penile length, and delayed age at first ejaculation after PCB exposure. Effects seen after dioxin exposure include retarded initiation and stage of breast development in girls, earlier menarche, disruption of sex hormone homeostasis, reduced testicular volume and reduced penile length in boys. The data published by different studies were inconclusive as a result of different methodological setup as well as because of multiple exposure settings. Populations were exposed to different mixtures of dioxin/PCB congeners or mixtures with other endocrine disrupters, and therefore synergistic and antagonistic effects with PCBs and dioxins are possible. Dioxinlike compounds disturb the hormonal balance mainly through interaction with the Ah receptor, which may influence the synthesis of hormones or their transport proteins. However, we have to keep in mind that hormonal balance during puberty could also be altered by disruption of the thyroid homeostasis. Another important possible mechanism is the induction of epigenetic changes or effects on genetic polymorphism. The fact that exposure to background concentrations of dioxin-like compounds and PCBs also has effects on the reproductive development is disconcerting and warrants further research and long term follow-up studies.

328 FLUORESCENT PROBE ASSESSMENT OF POST-THAW QUALITY OF RAM SPERM TREATED WITH SEMINAL PLASMA

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
M. Rovegno ◽  
W. B. Feitosa ◽  
A. C. Brandão ◽  
A. B. Nascimento ◽  
M. A. Peres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Fluorescent Probes ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Mitochondrial Activity ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Frozen Semen ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Ram Sperm

A recently suggested alternative to improve post-thaw ovine semen quality is the addition of seminal plasma (SP). This is thought to be capable of improving sperm resistance to thermal shock, reverting cryo-capacitation and helping sperm survival in the female tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of thawed ram semen incubation with seminal plasma for 15 or 30 min as assessed by the fluorescent probes, Hoechst 33342 (40 µg mL−1), propidium iodide (0.5 mg mL−1), JC-1 (76.5 µM in DMSO), and FITC-PSA (100 µg mL−1 in Dulbecco's PBS (DPBS)), for cellular viability, plasmatic damage, mitochondrial activity, and acrosomal damage, respectively. Five ejaculates were collected from 4 different animals via artificial vagina and were pooled to eliminate individual differences. After thawing, semen was divided into 2 groups, one diluted with seminal plasma (1 : 1, 30% in DPBS) and the other in DPBS (1 : 1). After 15 and 30 min, fluorescent probes were added to 25 µL of each group and 100 cells were counted under a epifluorescence microscope (Olympus IX81, motorized inverted research microscope). Spermatozoa were classified under 8 categories: alive, damaged acrosome, and high mitochondrial activity (ADH); dead, damaged acrosome, and high mitochondrial activity (DDH); alive, damaged acrosome, and poor mitochondrial activity (ADP); dead, damaged acrosome, and poor mitochondrial activity (DDP); alive, intact acrosome, and high mitochondrial activity (AIH); dead, intact acrosome, and high mitochondrial activity (DIH); alive, intact acrosome, and poor mitochondrial activity (AIP); or dead, intact acrosome, and poor mitochondrial activity (DIP). Statistical analysis was performed by Fisher test at a 5% level. The results are presented in Table 1. There was no significant difference between groups except for the AIH category which was reduced during incubation in either DPBS or SP for 15 or 30 min. These last data allow the conclusion that ram sperm is highly susceptible to cryogenic damage. Nevertheless, the high percentage of the AIH category suggests that the spermatozoa that can resist the freezing protocol remain alive and intact. Hence, we can infer that ram frozen semen has approximately half the fertilizing potential of fresh semen. In addition, we observed a negative effect of the incubation period as the decreased percentage of the AIH category was accompained by an increase of the DDP and DIP ones. We conclude that seminal plasma incubation after thawing does not benefit sperm quality. It is necessary to study the seminal plasma constitution to conclude why this experiment differed from other published data. Table 1.Spermatozoa percentages in the categories during incubation periods with or without seminal plasma This work was supported financially by FAPESP 05/55256-3

Effectiveness of zona pellucida protein ZPB as an immunocontraceptive antigen

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 19-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
ML Martinez ◽  
JD Harris
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Recombinant Protein ◽  
Antibody Titre ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Papio Cynocephalus ◽  
Cynomolgus Monkeys ◽  
Menstrual Cycles ◽  
Normal Menstrual Cycle

Immunization of female mammals with native zona pellucida (ZP) proteins is known to cause infertility. Since each human ZP protein is now available as a purified recombinant protein, is it possible to compare the immunocontraceptive potential of each ZP protein. A breeding study was conducted in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fasicularis) after immunization with recombinant human ZP (rhZP) proteins (ZPA, ZPB, ZPC) separately and in combinations. This study demonstrated that immunization with recombinant human ZPB (rhZPB) protein caused cynomolgus monkeys to become infertile for 9-35 months. A second study was conducted in baboons (Papio cynocephalus), which yielded a similar result. The baboons immunized with rhZPB became infertile for 9 to > 20 months. During the time of maximum antibody titre, some animals experienced disruption of the menstrual cycle, but eventually all of the animals resumed normal menstrual cycles. Control animals and animals immunized with other rhZP proteins all became pregnant before any of the rhZPB-treated animals. This is the first study in which a recombinant ZP protein has consistently induced infertility in a primate without permanent disruption of the normal menstrual cycle.

The Prevalence of Bacteriospermia in Infertile Men and Association with Semen Quality in Southwestern Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Motamedifar ◽  
Yalda Malekzadegan ◽  
Parisa Namdari ◽  
Behzad Dehghani ◽  
Bahia Namavar Jahromi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Microbiological Analysis ◽  
Male Reproductive Function ◽  
Infertile Men ◽  
Southwestern Iran

Introduction: Infertility considered as a social and public health issue and estimated that most of these infertile couples are residents of developing countries. Infectious diseases including the history of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) may impact on male reproductive function. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of bacterial contaminants of semen and probable association with sperm quality of infertile men in Iranian population. Methods: The study population consisted of 200 infertile men and 150 fertile men attending an infertility Center in southwestern Iran during the study period in 2015. The assessment of sperm parameters was according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The presumptive pathogens were identified using standard microbiology tests and confirmed by specific PCR primers. Results: The prevalence of bacteriospermia in the semen of the infertile group was significantly higher than that in the fertile group (48% vs. 26.7%, P <0.001). The microbiological analysis of samples showed that the most abundant species of bacteria in semen of infertile men were Chlamydia trachomatis (12.5%) followed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (11%). On the other hand, in the control group, Lactobacillus spp. (17.3%) was the most isolated pathogen. Results showed that the presence of N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Haemophilus, and Klebsiella was significantly associated with sperm abnormality. Conclusion: Based on our findings, it seems that bacteriospermia is associated with alterations in the properties of semen which may lead to a decrease in the fertilization potential of sperm. Therefore, immediate and appropriate treatment is necessary before investigating every other possible cause of infertility.

Restraint stress of male mice triggers apoptosis in spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells via activating the TNF-α system

Zygote ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
De-Ling Kong ◽  
Bin Xiao ◽  
Hong-Jie Yuan ◽  
Qiao-Qiao Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Restraint Stress ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
Seminiferous Tubules ◽  
Spermatogenic Cells ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Testicular Cells ◽  
Tnf Α

SummaryStudies have indicated that psychological stress impairs human fertility and that various stressors can induce apoptosis of testicular cells. However, the mechanisms by which psychological stress on males reduces semen quality and stressors induce apoptosis in testicular cells are largely unclear. Using a psychological (restraint) stress mouse model, we tested whether male psychological stress triggers apoptosis of spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells through activating tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α signalling. Wild-type or TNF-α−/− male mice were restrained for 48 h before examination for apoptosis and expression of TNF-α and TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) in spermatozoa, epididymis, seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic cells. The results showed that male restraint significantly decreased fertilization rate and mitochondrial membrane potential, while increasing levels of malondialdehyde, active caspase-3, TNF-α and TNFR1 in spermatozoa. Male restraint also increased apoptosis and expression of TNF-α and TNFR1 in caudae epididymides, seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic cells. Sperm quality was also significantly impaired when spermatozoa were recovered 35 days after male restraint. The restraint-induced damage to spermatozoa, epididymis and seminiferous tubules was significantly ameliorated in TNF-α−/− mice. Furthermore, incubation with soluble TNF-α significantly reduced sperm motility and fertilizing potential. Taken together, the results demonstrated that male psychological stress induces apoptosis in spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells through activating the TNF-α system and that the stress-induced apoptosis in spermatogenic cells can be translated into impaired quality in future spermatozoa.

scholarly journals Macro- and microelements in serum and seminal plasma as biomarkers for bull sperm cryotolerance

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Zakošek Pipan ◽  
Petra Zrimšek ◽  
Breda Jakovac Strajn ◽  
Katarina Pavšič Vrtač ◽  
Tanja Knific ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Additional Tool ◽  
Bull Semen ◽  
Bull Sperm ◽  
Fresh Semen

ABSTRACT Background Wide variation in fertility rates is observed when using frozen bull semen, even when the bulls have met quality standards for semen production. Therefore, a simple and reliable test to assess the freezing potential of bull semen based on the analysis of fresh semen or blood would be of great value. Attention is now turning to assessment of seminal plasma components such as proteins and elements. In the present study, the concentrations of macro- and microelements in fresh bull semen plasma and in serum and their correlation with quality characteristics of fresh semen and with semen quality after freezing and thawing were determined. Ejaculates were collected from 30 mature bulls, and semen volume, concentration, sperm motility, morphology, tail membrane integrity, plasma membrane permeability and DNA fragmentation were determined on the day of collection and after freezing and thawing. The concentrations of macroelements (Na, Mg, K and Ca) and microelements (Cu, Fe, Zn and Se) were determined in the seminal plasma and serum. The semen samples were classified into satisfactory and unsatisfactory groups according to the fresh semen quality. Results Zinc and Se levels measured in serum were associated with almost all fresh and frozen-thawed semen quality characteristics, while Fe levels were associated only with acrosomal defects in fresh semen. Zinc and Fe levels in fresh seminal plasma were associated with various quality characteristics of fresh and frozen-thawed semen, while Se level in fresh seminal plasma was not associated with any of the semen quality characteristics. Conclusions Microelements were shown to be useful as biomarkers involved in the analysis of bull sperm quality and could be used as an additional tool to predict bull semen quality after freezing and thawing. Our results confirm that the analysis of Zn and Se levels in serum and Zn, Cu and Fe levels in fresh seminal plasma can provide information to discriminate between bull semen samples with spermatozoa with high or low cryotolerance.

scholarly journals Maternal exposure to airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and risk of adverse birth outcomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane Bungum Kofoed ◽  
Laura Deen ◽  
Karin Sørig Hougaard ◽  
Kajsa Ugelvig Petersen ◽  
Harald William Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Small For Gestational Age ◽  
Maternal Exposure ◽  
Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽  
Secondary Sex Ratio

AbstractHuman health effects of airborne lower-chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (LC-PCBs) are largely unexplored. Since PCBs may cross the placenta, maternal exposure could potentially have negative consequences for fetal development. We aimed to determine if exposure to airborne PCB during pregnancy was associated with adverse birth outcomes. In this cohort study, exposed women had lived in PCB contaminated apartments at least one year during the 3.6 years before conception or the entire first trimester of pregnancy. The women and their children were followed for birth outcomes in Danish health registers. Logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios (OR) for changes in secondary sex ratio, preterm birth, major congenital malformations, cryptorchidism, and being born small for gestational age. We performed linear regression to estimate difference in birth weight among children of exposed and unexposed mothers. All models were adjusted for maternal age, educational level, ethnicity, and calendar time. We identified 885 exposed pregnancies and 3327 unexposed pregnancies. Relative to unexposed women, exposed women had OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.82, 1.15) for secondary sex ratio, OR 1.13 (95% CI 0.76, 1.67) for preterm birth, OR 1.28 (95% CI 0.81, 2.01) for having a child with major malformations, OR 1.73 (95% CI 1.01, 2.95) for cryptorchidism and OR 1.23 (95% CI 0.88, 1.72) for giving birth to a child born small for gestational age. The difference in birth weight for children of exposed compared to unexposed women was − 32 g (95% CI—79, 14). We observed an increased risk of cryptorchidism among boys after maternal airborne LC-PCB exposure, but due to the proxy measure of exposure, inability to perform dose–response analyses, and the lack of comparable literature, larger cohort studies with direct measures of exposure are needed to investigate the safety of airborne LC-PCB exposure during pregnancy

Does the menstrual cycle influence the sensitivity of vagally mediated baroreflexes?

2002 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 639-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. COOKE ◽  
David A. LUDWIG ◽  
Paul S. HOGG ◽  
Dwain L. ECKBERG ◽  
Victor A. CONVERTINO
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Menstrual Cycles ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Normal Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Cardiac Regulation ◽  
Neck Pressure ◽  
Noradrenaline Levels

The menstrual cycle provokes several physiological changes that could influence autonomic regulatory mechanisms. We studied the carotid-cardiac baroreflex in ten healthy young women on four occasions over the course of their menstrual cycles (days 0-8, 9-14, 15-20 and 21-25). We drew blood during each session for analysis of oestrogen, progesterone and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) levels, and assessed carotid-cardiac baroreflex function by analysing R-R interval responses to graded neck pressure sequences. Oestrogen levels followed a classical two-peak (cubic) response, with elevated levels on days 9-14 and 21-25 compared with days 0-8 and 15-20 (P =0.0032), while progesterone levels increased exponentially from days 9-14 to days 21-25 (P = 0.0063). Noradrenaline levels increased from an average of 137pg/ml during the first three measurement periods to 199pg/ml during days 21-25 (P = 0.0456). Carotid-cardiac baroreflex gain and operational point were not statistically different at any of the time points during the menstrual cycle (P⩾0.18). These findings are consistent with the notion that beat-to-beat vagal-cardiac regulation does not change over the course of the normal menstrual cycle.

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