Human Reproduction Update, Vol.7, No.3 pp.248-264, 2001
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2001; all rights reserved
Effects of environmental antiandrogens on reproductive development in experimental animals
1 Endocrinology Branch, RTD, ORD, NHEERL, USEPA, RTP, NC, USA, 2 Department of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA 3 NCSU/USEPA Cooperative Research Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA 4 Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
To whom correspondence should be addressed at: L. E. Gray, Jr, MD-72, Endocrinology Branch, RTD, NHEERL, ORD, USEPA, RTP, NC, 27711, USA. e-mail: gray.earl{at}epa.gov
Abstract
Chemicals that act as androgen receptor (AR) agonists and antagonists or inhibit fetal steroidogenesis can induce reproductive malformations in humans and laboratory animals. Several environmental chemicals disrupt development in rats and/or rabbits at fetal concentrations at, or near, exposure levels seen in some segments of the human population. In rats, fetal tissues concentrations of 1020 p.p.m. of the DDT metabolite, p,p'-DDE, are correlated with reproductive abnormalities in male offspring. These concentrations are similar to those measured in first-trimester human fetal tissues in the late 1960s. The pesticides vinclozolin, procymidone, linuron and DDT are AR antagonists. They reduce male rat anogenital distance, and induce areolas at relatively low dosages. Hypospadias, agenesis of the sex accessory tissues and retained nipples are seen in the middle dosages, while undescended testes and epididymal agenesis are seen in the highest doses. Phthalate esters (PE) inhibit testosterone synthesis during fetal life, but do not appear to be AR antagonists. Prenatal administration of a single low dose of dioxin (501000 ng TCDD/kg) alters the differentiation of androgen-dependent tissues at p.p.t. concentrations, but the mechanism of action likely involves interaction with a hormone-like nuclear transcription factor, the hormone-like receptor AhR, rather than AR. p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE, vinclozolin and di-n-butyl phthalate affect reproductive function in rabbits when administered during prenatal and/or neonatal life. Cryptorchidism and carcinoma in situ-like (CIS) testicular lesions were seen in male rabbits treated during development with p,p'-DDT or p,p'-DDE. Extrapolation of effects from rodents to humans would be enhanced if future studies incorporate determination of tissue concentrations of the active metabolites. Knowledge of the tissue concentrations of the active toxicants also would provide an important link to in-vitro studies, which provide more useful mechanistic information when they are executed at relevant concentrations.
Key words: antiandrogens / pesticides / phthalates / pulp mill effluent / sexual differentiation
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