How can chemical compounds alter human fertility?
The effects of environmental toxins, such as pesticides, solvents and industrial waste, on human and animal health have caused much public fear. The suggested mechanism of action for these xenobiotics is their capacity to interact with steroid hormones receptors, in particular those for estrogens and androgens. Concern was reinforced by the "historical" example of diethylstilbestrol, an estradiol mimetic causing genital cancer in girls exposed in utero. The real harm of these environmental xenobiotics is controversial. Some authors estimate that they do not reach sufficiently high concentrations to do damage and much experimental work has been done. In this review, we summarise the latest findings on the molecular mechanisms of action of three environmental toxicants, xenohormones, dioxin and glycol ethers and compare animal and cell experimental model data with epidemiological studies.
Massaad
Charbel
C
Laboratoire de Fécondation in vitro, Pavillon Jean d'Alsace, Antoine Béclère hospital, 157 rue de la porte de Trivaux, 92141, Clamart, France. massaad@kb.inserm.fr
Entezami
Frida
F
Massade
Liliane
L
Benahmed
Mouhamed
M
Olivennes
François
F
Barouki
Robert
R
Hamamah
Samir
S
D000818:Animals; D004147:Dioxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006728:Hormones / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000009:adverse effects; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000009:adverse effects
D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006728:Hormones; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D015262:Xenobiotics; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D019855:Ethylene Glycol