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Fertility Alterations Related to Endocrine Disruptors
Introduction
The objective of this essay is to review the endocrine disruptors’ effects on the reproductive system, and whether it is a clinical concern in domestic animals. We will discuss the physiological effects in male and female animals, and dive deeper into the concerns related to different species. The ways of exposure and accumulative capacities of the endocrine disruptors will also be taken into consideration.
Table of Content
Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine disruptors (ED) are defined as substances found in our environment with the ability to alter the physiology of the mammalian or avian endocrine system. Both adult animals and developing organisms may experience harmful and long-lasting damage. Among these are developmental disorders, altered metabolic balance and reproductive problems. There is a broad spectre of ways of exposure, and they have an effect in really small doses. The endocrine disruptors may be incorporated orally, penetrate through skin or through mucous membranes. Offspring may receive disruptors through the placenta, with breast milk or into an egg. They are found in minerals (e.g. lead, mercury), micotoxins (e.g. zearalenon), agriculture (e.g. insecticides), industry (e.g. phthalates, BPA), among others (see Figure 1).
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The endocrine disruptors may disturb the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in several ways. They may interfere with the synthesis, release, transport or degradation of hormones, receptors or signalling cascades of target cells, or the hypothalamus itself. The biochemical properties of mitochondria can be affected, as well as altered metabolic rate and gene-expression. In this article, we have chosen to focus on some of the most common endocrine disruptors eliciting a concerning impact on the male and female reproductive systems.
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Brief Description of Specific Endocrine Disruptors
Methoxychlor (MXC)
Methoxychlor (MXC) is an organochlorine pesticide. It is used as a replacement for DDT, another organochlorine known for its infamous, destructive impact on the environment. MXC metabolites possess estrogenic, anti-estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties (Gaido et al., 2000).
Genistein
Genistein is a flavonoid phytoestrogen found in several plants, including soy beans, medicinal plants, and coffee. It has been proven that genistein possesses estrogenic properties in several mammalian species. (Whitehead et al., 2002).