[Breakthroughs in the study of the influence of environmental factors on male reproductive health].
BACKGROUND
An important part of the research effort on male reproductive health focus on two important questions: on the one side, that of the temporal deterioration of male reproductive health and, on the other head, that of the influence of exposure to environmental chemicals during intra-uterine life on health during childhood and adulthood. The concepts on endocrine disruption and testicular dysgenesis syndrome make a link between these two questions.


METHODS
This work examines knowledge cumulated over the last couple of years concerning geographical and temporal variations in male reproductive health and the testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Recent results concerning the concept of endocrine disruption and on the environmental influences on male reproduction are presented, as well as on the transgenerational effects on environmental factors on the health of male children.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on clinical and epidemiological data, and with the use of in vitro animal models as well as observations in wildlife, research in this field has enabled progress in the elucidation of mechanisms of action and characterization of environmental influences on male reproductive health.
Slama
R
R
Inserm, IFR 69, Unité 569 Epidémiologie, Démographie et Sciences Sociales, 82, rue du Général-Leclerc, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre. slama@vjf.inserm.fr
Jégou
B
B
Cordier
S
S
D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction