title: Sperm DNA integrity in relation to exposure to environmental perfluoroalkyl substances - a study of spouses of pregnant women in three geographical regions.
abstract: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can interfere with male reproductive function, but evidence in humans is limited. Six hundred four fertile men (199 from Greenland, 197 from Poland and 208 from Ukraine) were enrolled in the study. We measured four PFASs in serum (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS) and concurrent DNA damage in spermatozoa by sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, apoptotic markers in semen (Fas-receptor and Bcl-xL), and reproductive hormones in serum. No association between PFASs and SCSA, apoptotic markers or reproductive hormones emerged. We observed a slight increase in SHBG and TUNEL-positivity with increased PFOA exposure in men from Greenland. Thus, consistent evidence that PFAS exposure interferes with sperm DNA fragmentation, apoptosis or reproductive hormones was not found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of Copenhagen, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. Electronic address: ispe0002@bbh.regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Ina Olmer
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Specht
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hougaard
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Unit of Radiation Biology and Human Health, ENEA Casaccia Research Center, IT-00123 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spanò
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche Via Brecce Bianche, IT-60131 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bizzaro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e degli Alimenti, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Manicardi
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christian H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lindh
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bo A G
authors.initials: BAG
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Centre, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö SE-20502, Sweden.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giwercman
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of Copenhagen, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens Peter E
authors.initials: JPE
authors.lastname: Bonde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D006116:Greenland; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018454:Spouses; D014455:Ukraine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002843:Chromatin; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons