title: Association between phthalate metabolites and biomarkers of reproductive function in 1066 Chinese men of reproductive age.
abstract: Phthalates are suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals that impair male reproductive function in animal and epidemiological studies. We investigated associations between urinary phthalate metabolites and acrosin activity, along with that between insulin like-factor 3 (INSL3), a Leydig cell function marker, in Chinese adult men and assessed the association between the metabolites and male reproductive function. Serum levels of INSL3 and other hormones, semen parameters, and urinary concentrations of 14 phthalate metabolites in 1066 men were measured. The unadjusted concentrations of phthalates were included as independent variables and urinary creatinine as a separate covariate. INSL3 was negatively associated with mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) and %MEHP [percentage of MEHP to all di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites]. Acrosin activity was negatively associated with mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), MEHP and %MEHP. MBP and MiBP were also negatively associated with total testosterone (T), free androgen index (FAI), free testosterone (FT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and sperm morphology and positively associated with DNA fragmentation index (DFI). A negative association between %MEHP and sperm motility was observed. Several other metabolites were also associated with reproductive function. This is the first report on the inverse associations of phthalate metabolites with acrosin activity and INSL3. Phthalates may cause multiple adverse results on reproductive function at environmental levels.
authors: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
authors: Yitao
authors: Y
authors: Pan
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, PR China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Jing
authors: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, PR China.
authors: Fengshou
authors: F
authors: Dong
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, PR China.
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Yao
authors: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.
authors: Hongxia
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Reproductive Medical Center, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, PR China. Electronic address: 2424572228@qq.com.
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Yao
authors: Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China. Electronic address: daijy@ioz.ac.cn.
authors: Jiayin
authors: J
authors: Dai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D002681:China; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007328:Insulin; C084797:Leydig insulin-like protein; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011506:Proteins; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C016599:mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
keywords: Acrosin activity; Insulin like-factor 3; Male fertility; Phthalates; Urinary metabolites