title: Associations of bisphenol A and polychlorinated biphenyls with spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in two biological fluids from men attending an infertility clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the testis, steroid hormones play an important role in spermatogenesis, the production of semen, and the maintenance of secondary sex characteristics and libido. They may also play a role as a target for substances called endocrine disruptors (EDs). As yet, however, no complex study has been conducted evaluating the relationships between EDs and the steroid spectrum in the plasma and seminal plasma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To shed more light into mechanisms of EDs and the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on human spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined BPA and 11 steroids in the plasma and seminal plasma of 191 men with different degrees of fertility, using a newly developed liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry method. Concurrently, plasma levels of 6 congeners of PCBs, gonadotropins, selenium, zinc and homocysteine were measured. Partial correlations adjusted for age, BMI and abstinence time were performed to evaluate relationships between these analytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seminal BPA, but not plasma BPA, was negatively associated with sperm concentration (r=-0.198; p=0.009), sperm count (r=-0.178; p=0.018) and morphology (r=-0.160; p=0.044). Divergent and sometimes opposing associations of steroids and BPA were found in both body fluids. The sum of PCB congeners was negatively associated with testosterone, free testosterone, the free androgen index and dihydrotestosterone in plasma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BPA may negatively contribute to the final state of sperm quality. Moreover, our data indicate that BPA influences human gonadal and adrenal steroidogenesis at various steps. Environmental levels of PCBs negatively correlated with androgen levels, but surprisingly without negative effects on sperm quality.
authors: Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: jvitku@endo.cz.
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Vitku
authors: Department of Urology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Urology, Military University Hospital Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Heracek
authors: Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Lucie
authors: L
authors: Sosvorova
authors: Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Hampl
authors: Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Tereza
authors: T
authors: Chlupacova
authors: Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Hill
authors: Department of Urology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Sobotka
authors: Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Bicikova
authors: Department of Steroids and Proteofactors, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Luboslav
authors: L
authors: Starka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010636:Phenols; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D013739:Testosterone; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Bisphenol A; Endocrine disruptor; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Reproduction; Spermatogenesis; Steroid