title: The effect of environmental contaminants on testicular function.
abstract: Male reproductive health has deteriorated considerably in the last few decades. Nutritional, socioeconomic, lifestyle and environmental factors (among others) have been attributed to compromising male reproductive health. In recent years, a large volume of evidence has accumulated that suggests that the trend of decreasing male fertility (in terms of sperm count, quality and other changes in male reproductive health) might be due to exposure to environmental toxicants. These environmental contaminants can mimic natural oestrogens and target testicular spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, and the function of both Sertoli and Leydig cells. Most environmental toxicants have been shown to induce reactive oxygen species, thereby causing a state of oxidative stress in various compartments of the testes. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of action of the environmental toxicants on the testis have yet to be elucidated. This review discusses the effects of some of the more commonly used environmental contaminants on testicular function through the induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry 605 014, India. ppmathur.bic@pondiuni.edu.in
authors.forename: Premendu Prakash
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Shereen Cynthia
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: D'Cruz
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000494:pharmacology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species