title: Parallel assessment of male reproductive function in workers and wild rats exposed to pesticides in banana plantations in Guadeloupe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing evidence that reproductive abnormalities are increasing in frequency in both human population and among wild fauna. This increase is probably related to exposure to toxic contaminants in the environment. The use of sentinel species to raise alarms relating to human reproductive health has been strongly recommended. However, no simultaneous studies at the same site have been carried out in recent decades to evaluate the utility of wild animals for monitoring human reproductive disorders. We carried out a joint study in Guadeloupe assessing the reproductive function of workers exposed to pesticides in banana plantations and of male wild rats living in these plantations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed to assess semen quality and reproductive hormones in banana workers and in men working in non-agricultural sectors. These reproductive parameters were also assessed in wild rats captured in the plantations and were compared with those in rats from areas not directly polluted by humans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in sperm characteristics and/or hormones was found between workers exposed and not exposed to pesticide. By contrast, rats captured in the banana plantations had lower testosterone levels and gonadosomatic indices than control rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wild rats seem to be more sensitive than humans to the effects of pesticide exposure on reproductive health. We conclude that the concept of sentinel species must be carefully validated as the actual nature of exposure may varies between human and wild species as well as the vulnerable time period of exposure and various ecological factors.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U625, Rennes, France. luc.multigner@rennes.inserm.fr
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Multigner
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kadhel
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pascal
authors.forename: Farida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huc-Terki
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kercret
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massart
authors.forename: Eustase
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Janky
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Auger
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jégou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects*; D019430:Guadeloupe; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D051381:Rats; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D013739:Testosterone