title: The non-genomic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on mammalian sperm.
abstract: Exposure to toxicants present in the environment, especially the so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), has been associated with decreased sperm quality and increased anomalies in male reproductive organs over the past decades. Both human and animal populations are continuously exposed to ubiquitous synthetic and natural-occurring EDCs through diet, dermal contact and/or inhalation, therefore potentially compromising male reproductive health. Although the effects of EDC are likely induced via multiple genomic-based pathways, their non-genomic effects may also be relevant. Furthermore, spermatozoa are transcriptionally inactive cells that can come in direct contact with EDCs in reproductive fluids and secretions and are therefore a good model to address non-genomic effects. This review thus focuses on the non-genomic effects of several important EDCs relevant to mammalian exposure. Notably, EDCs were found to interfere with pre-existing pathways inducing a panoply of deleterious effects to sperm function that included altered intracellular Ca(2) (+) oscillations, induction of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, increased DNA damage and decreased sperm motility and viability, among others, potentially jeopardizing male fertility. Although many studies have used non-environmentally relevant concentrations of only one compound for mechanistic studies, it is important to remember that mammals are not exposed to one, but rather to a multitude of environmental EDCs, and synergistic effects may occur. Furthermore, some effects have been detected with single compounds at environmentally relevant concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Escada-Rebelo
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell GroupPhD Programme in Experimental Biology and BiomedicineCNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 1st floor, 3004-504 Coimbra;Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC)University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão - Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco de Lemos 3030-789 CoimbraDepartment of Life SciencesUniversity of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal jramalho@ci.uc.pt.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramalho-Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity; D004357:Drug Synergism; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D009183:Mycotoxins; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D002118:Calcium