The influence of endocrine disruptors in a selected population of infertile women.
Several studies report that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) able to interfere with endocrine homeostasis may affect women's reproductive health. We analyzed EDC serum levels and nuclear receptors (NRs) expression in order to have an indication of the internal dose of biologically active compounds and a measurement of indicators of their effects, as a result of the repeated uptake from environmental source. The percentage of patients with detectable bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations was significantly higher in the infertile patients compared with fertile subjects. No significant difference was found between the groups with regard to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) concentrations. Among infertile women, the mean expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (Erβ), androgen receptor (AR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) was significantly higher than fertile patients. The mean expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) did not show significant differences between two groups. Patients with endometriosis had higher levels of PPARγ than all women with other causes of infertility. This study led further support to EDC exposure as a risk factor for women's fertility.
Department of Woman Health and Territory's Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy. donatella.caserta@uniroma1.it
Donatella
D
Caserta
Giulia
G
Bordi
Francesca
F
Ciardo
Roberto
R
Marci
Cinzia
C
La Rocca
Sabrina
S
Tait
Bruno
B
Bergamasco
Laura
L
Stecca
Alberto
A
Mantovani
Cristiana
C
Guerranti
Emiliano Leonida
EL
Fanello
Guido
G
Perra
Francesca
F
Borghini
Silvano Ettore
SE
Focardi
Massimo
M
Moscarini
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear