scholarly journals Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Reproductive Health in Boys and Men

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiwat Rodprasert ◽  
Jorma Toppari ◽  
Helena E. Virtanen
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Testicular Cancer ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Serum Testosterone Level ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Testicular Development ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

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.

scholarly journals Changes in male reproductive health and effects of endocrine disruptors in Scandinavian countries

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorma Toppari ◽  
Anne-Maarit Haavisto ◽  
Markku Alanen
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Testicular Cancer ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Secular Trends ◽  
Change Points ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Rapid Pace ◽  
Environmental Causes ◽  
Male Reproductive Health

Male reproductive health has deteriorated in many ways during the last decades. The incidence of testicular cancer has rapidly increased in Europe and European-derived populations. Sperm concentrations have declined and sperm motility and morphology have worsened in many areas. Both adverse trends have been shown to be associated with year of birth. Older birth cohorts have better reproductive health than the younger generations. Incidences of cryptorchidism and hypospadias have also increased according to several studies. The reasons for secular trends are unknown, but the rapid pace of the change points to environmental causes. Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been hypothesized to influence male reproductive health.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and reproductive disorders in women, men, and animal models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Jo Laws ◽  
Alison M. Neff ◽  
Emily Brehm ◽  
Genoa R. Warner ◽  
Jodi A. Flaws
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting

scholarly journals Sex-Change Chemicals and their Influence on the Brain

2001 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 681-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Developmental Abnormalities ◽  
Scientific World ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Wide Variability ◽  
Wildlife Populations ◽  
Natural Hormones ◽  
The Brain

The potential for man-made chemicals to mimic or antagonise natural hormones is a controversial issue, but one for which increasing amounts of evidence are being gathered worldwide. The controversy surrounds not so much the matter of whether these chemicals can mimic hormones invitro— this phenomenon has been widely accepted in the scientific world — but more whether, as a result, they can disrupt reproduction in a wildlife situation. It has, nevertheless, been acknowledged that many wildlife populations are exhibiting reproductive and/or developmental abnormalities such as intersex gonads in wild roach populations in the U.K.[1] and various reproductive disorders in alligators in Lake Apopka, Florida[2]. However, the causative agents for many of these effects are difficult to specify, due to the extensive mixtures of chemicals — each of which may act via different pathways — to which wild populations are exposed, together with the wide variability observed even in natural (uncontaminated) habitats. As a result, any information detailing fundamental mechanism of action of the so-called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is of use in determining whether or not these chemicals, as they are present in the environment, may in fact be capable of causing some of the effects observed in wildlife over recent years.

Impact of Varicocele and Varicocele Surgery on Semen Quality, Erectile Function and Serum Hormone Levels

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-136
Author(s):  
Badereddin Mohamad Al-Ali ◽  
Emma Persad ◽  
Andreas Lunacek ◽  
Christof Mrstik ◽  
Eugen Plas
Keyword(s):  
Testosterone Level ◽  
Erectile Function ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
T Test ◽  
Serum Testosterone Level ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Introduction: Many studies suggest that varicoceles are associated with hypogonadism and varicocele repair can increase testosterone levels and improve erectile function.Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the impact of varicocele and varicocele surgery on testosterone level, semen quality, and erectile function.Methods: Our study included 265 infertile males with a clinical varicocele. This group was divided into three groups: group 1 (193) patients who did not receive surgery, group 2 (72 patients) who were operated on according to the Palomo procedure and group 3 (28 patients), who acted as a control group without a varicocele. All patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function IIEF-5 (German version) and underwent semen analysis. Serum testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured at inclusion into the study and after surgery.Main outcome measures: Changes in semen quality, erectile function, and serum hormones after surgery.Results: The IIEF-5 scores in groups 1 and 2 were 21.01 ± 2.2; and 21.74 ± 1 respectively, and the resulting t-test for equality of variance was significant (p < 0.0001). Total testosterone level in groups 1 and 2 were 3.16 ± 0.37 and 3 ± 0.01, respectively, and the resulting t-test for equality of variance was significant (p < 0.0001). The results of the semen analysis were better in group 2 (after surgery) (28.6%, p < 0.001) in comparison to group 1. Interestingly, pre-operative serum testosterone levels were lower in patients with later improvement of semen analysis (p = 0.05). Body mass index (p = 0.8), pre-operative serum FSH (p = 0.9), LH (p = 0.2), and nicotine consumption (p = 0.6) were similar in both the group that saw improvement and the group with no change in semen quality.Conclusion: Semen quality improved in 28.6% of patients after varicocele surgery. Erectile dysfunction (ED) improved after varicocele surgery. We report that lower pre-operative serum testosterone level might be a possible indicator for successful surgical outcome.

Environmental chemical effects on testicular function

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-100
Author(s):  
PA Fowler ◽  
T Murray ◽  
DR Abramovich ◽  
N Haites ◽  
RG Lea
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Testicular Cancer ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Environmental Chemical ◽  
Actual Increase ◽  
Endocrine Disrupting ◽  
Changing Attitudes ◽  
Considerable Body

There have been a number of reviews on this topic over the past decade, starting with Carlsen et al. and including Irvine et al. and Murray et al., concerning declining male fertility. The most exhaustive has perhaps been that of Toppari et al. The main findings of these reviews are: (1) that in some countries of the world sperm production has halved in the last 60 years, (2) rates of testicular cancer have doubled, (3) rates of malformation of the male reproductive tract, such as hypospadias, have doubled, (4) rates of testicular maldescent have risen sharply and (5) these effects are largely linked geographically. Typically, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment have been regarded as the main candidates for these effects. A consistent problem with the field, however, is the difficulty in determining the accuracy of data relating to changes in men's health over the latter half of the 20th century. Advances in diagnosis and changing attitudes to the emotive issues surrounding deformity and male infertility inevitably render some of the mass of collected data suspect. Indeed a recent review of testicular and prostate cancer concluded that while the incidence of prostate cancer had increased, the epidemiological data were not suitable for concrete conclusions about causation to be drawn. However, in the case of testicular cancer the data suggested a limited number of major risk factors. In addition, assessing urogenital malformation retrospectively from patient notes is subject to considerable variation in classification. A recent review does however find evidence to suggest that trends of increasing incidences of hypospadias on a temporal and geographical basis may reflect an actual increase in incidence and require further study. On the other hand, there is a considerable body of evidence for EDC disruption of reproduction in wildlife (reviewed by Guillette & Gunderson, 2001).

scholarly journals Gonadal development and reproductive hormones in infant boys

2006 ◽  
Vol 155 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S51-S57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina M Main ◽  
Jorma Toppari ◽  
Niels E Skakkebæk
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Testicular Cancer ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Gonadal Development ◽  
Reproductive Hormones ◽  
Inhibin B ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome

Background: The intrauterine milieu plays a crucial role for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adulthood, but little is known about its impact on gonadal development and reproduction. Impaired testis development in fetal life can lead to cryptorchidism, hypospadias, impaired semen quality, and testicular cancer, disorders that may present symptoms of a testicular dysgenesis syndrome. The prevalence of these disorders appears to increase in many areas, probably due to environmental factors acting in utero. Denmark has a significantly higher incidence of testicular cancer and lower sperm quality than Finland. Methods: We conducted a population-based study of newborn boys from Denmark and Finland, in order to examine whether this geographic difference was reflected in the reproductive health of newborns. Results: Danish boys had a lower testis volume at birth, a smaller testis growth up to 18 months of age and lower serum inhibin B and FSH levels at 3 months than Finnish. Danish boys also had a higher prevalence of both cryptorchidism and hypospadias than Finnish boys. In boys with cryptorchidism and hypospadias subtle changes in hormonal levels occurred, towards increased gonadotropins and lower inhibin B in cryptorchidism. Both types of congenital malformations were more frequent in children born small for gestational age, indicative of a relationship between growth and reproductive development. Conclusions: These early postnatal findings suggest that the previously observed population differences in reproductive health between young Danish and Finnish men are of fetal origin. The differences may originate as a result of gene–environment interactions, where endocrine disrupters may also play a role.

scholarly journals Estrogen effects on fetal and neonatal testicular development

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Géraldine Delbès ◽  
Christine Levacher ◽  
René Habert
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Estrogenic Activity ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Testicular Development ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Reproductive Disorders

In recent years, evidences have accumulated that exposure to environmental components with estrogenic activity causes reproductive disorders in human populations. Studies conducted over the past 50 years have clearly shown a continual decline in semen quality accompanied by an increase in male reproductive disorders during this period in industrial countries. As healthy gametes are a prerequisite for healthy children, such disorders are a significant problem not only for the current society, but also for future generations. These male reproductive disorders have been attributed to xenobiotics, and particularly to xenoestrogens, which have steadily increased in diversity and concentration in the environment and food. Epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies have suggested that excessive exposure to estrogens and xenoestrogens during fetal and neonatal development may induce testicular developmental disorders, leading to alterations in the adult male fertility. Recently, we have clearly demonstrated that fetal and neonatal testes are very sensitive to estrogens, as the inactivation of estrogen receptor α increases steroidogenesis and the inactivation of estrogen receptor β enhances development of the germ cell lineage in the male.

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