title: Male reprotoxicity and endocrine disruption.
abstract: Mammalian reproductive tract development is a tightly regulated process that can be disrupted following exposure to drugs, toxicants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), or other compounds via alterations to gene and protein expression or epigenetic regulation. Indeed, the impacts of developmental exposure to certain toxicants may not be fully realized until puberty or adulthood when the reproductive tract becomes sexually mature and altered functionality is manifested. Exposures that occur later in life, once development is complete, can also disrupt the intricate hormonal and paracrine interactions responsible for adult functions, such as spermatogenesis. In this chapter, the biology and toxicology of the male reproductive tract is explored, proceeding through the various life stages including in utero development, puberty, adulthood, and senescence. Special attention is given to the discussion of EDCs, chemical mixtures, low-dose effects, transgenerational effects, and potential exposure-related causes of male reproductive tract cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campion
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Catlin
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heger
authors.forename: Elizabeth V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saffarini
authors.forename: Moses A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sandrof
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boekelheide
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000209:etiology; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants