Environmental Impacts on Reproductive Health and Fertility

Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Contributors......Page 9
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Background......Page 15
Environmental contaminants......Page 17
Critical and sensitive periods of development and susceptibility......Page 18
Layout of this book......Page 19
References......Page 20
Contaminant sources and disposition in the environment......Page 22
Humans and their environments......Page 23
Populations of concern......Page 24
Distinguishing exposure and dose......Page 25
Understanding dose in relation to the disease process......Page 26
Metabolism......Page 27
How reproductive and developmental functions affect exposure and dose......Page 28
Overview of methods......Page 29
Uses and exposure sources, pathways, and routes......Page 30
Uses and exposure sources, pathways, and routes......Page 31
Discussion of case examples......Page 32
Environmental contaminants and exposure: science and policy issues......Page 33
References......Page 34
Embryonic development of the follicle......Page 37
Folliculogenesis......Page 38
Reproductive modulators......Page 39
References......Page 40
Introduction......Page 43
Genetic basis of müllerian duct development......Page 44
Maturation of the müllerian ducts......Page 46
Abnormal müllerian development......Page 47
References......Page 48
Development of the rodent mammary gland......Page 50
Estrogen receptor expression in the adult breast......Page 52
Perinatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol......Page 53
Effects of perinatal exposure to BPA in the mammary gland......Page 54
Perinatal exposure to other environmental toxins and its effect on the mammary gland......Page 55
Susceptibility of the mammary gland during puberty......Page 56
Radiation......Page 57
Acknowledgments......Page 58
References......Page 59
Key periods in development of the male reproductive system......Page 62
Testicular differentiation (sexual differentiation)......Page 64
Masculinization......Page 65
Testicular development......Page 67
The neonatal period (0–6 months)......Page 69
Puberty and adulthood......Page 70
References......Page 71
Epigenetics and disease......Page 74
Morphogenesis genes in female reproductive tracts......Page 75
Disordered expression of HOX genes in female reproductive diseases......Page 76
Estrogen-receptor signaling and estrogen-responsive genes in female reproductive tracts......Page 77
Diethylstilbestrol syndrome and epigenetics......Page 79
Transgenerational effect of DES......Page 80
Other examples of DNA methylation changes by environmental factors......Page 81
Conclusions......Page 82
References......Page 83
(a) The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis......Page 86
Nuclear hormone receptors......Page 88
Androgen receptor-mediated endocrine disruption......Page 89
Estrogen receptor-mediated endocrine disruption......Page 90
Nuclear receptor co-regulator-mediated endocrine disruption......Page 91
Target mechanisms of EDCs: non-genomic signaling......Page 92
Target mechanisms of EDCs: modulation of hormone activity......Page 94
DNA methylation......Page 96
Endocrine disruptor-induced epigenetic modulation......Page 97
References......Page 98
Introduction......Page 106
The developmental origins of disease/dysfunction......Page 107
Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol as an example of the developmental origin of disease/dysfunction......Page 108
Prenatal exposure......Page 109
Neonatal exposure......Page 110
Obesity......Page 111
Fibroids (leiomyomata)......Page 112
Multigenerational effects......Page 113
Summary......Page 114
References......Page 115
The Great Lakes wildlife sentinels......Page 117
Lake Apopka, Florida and alligators......Page 119
Nitrate: a global contaminant......Page 120
Amphibians and agricultural pesticides......Page 122
Polar bears, penguins, and pesticides......Page 123
Wildlife biomarkers of contaminant exposure......Page 124
Are we listening?......Page 125
References......Page 126
Normal puberty......Page 129
Secular trend in onset and progression of puberty......Page 131
Precocious puberty......Page 132
Endocrine disrupters and timing of puberty......Page 133
References......Page 136
Scope of this chapter......Page 139
Some challenges in the study of environmental effects on pregnancy......Page 140
Fetal growth......Page 141
Fetal loss......Page 142
Fetal growth......Page 143
Congenital malformations......Page 144
Fetal loss......Page 145
Fetal loss......Page 146
Congenital malformations......Page 147
Congenital malformations in the first and second generations......Page 148
Solvents......Page 149
Radiation......Page 150
Overview......Page 151
References......Page 153
11.1 Introduction......Page 159
Connection between impaired semen quality and other male reproductive health problems......Page 161
Chemical exposures......Page 162
Experimental data of endocrine disrupters......Page 163
References......Page 164
Phthalates......Page 168
Non-persistent pesticides......Page 169
Solvents......Page 170
Metals......Page 171
References......Page 172
Introduction......Page 175
In utero exposures and implications for reproductive health and later onset disease......Page 176
Puberty......Page 178
Endometriosis......Page 179
Menstrual and ovarian function......Page 180
Fecundity and fertility......Page 181
Clinical and public health implications......Page 182
References......Page 183
Introduction to neuroendocrine systems......Page 187
Neuroendocrine control of reproduction......Page 188
GnRH neurons as targets for endocrine disruption: in vitro models......Page 189
Effects of EDCs on brain sexual differentiation and behavior......Page 190
References......Page 191
Thyroid hormone signaling......Page 194
Implications for reproduction......Page 196
Conclusions......Page 197
References......Page 198
Overview of the immune system......Page 202
Gender, pregnancy, and the immune response......Page 203
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, reproductive outcomes, fetal origin of adult disease, and the immune system......Page 205
References......Page 206
Testicular cancer......Page 208
Environmental estrogens......Page 211
Phthalates......Page 212
Diethylstilbestrol......Page 213
Atrazine......Page 214
DDT/DDE......Page 215
Persistent organochlorine pesticides......Page 216
Cadmium......Page 217
Diethylstilbestrol......Page 218
Arsenic......Page 219
Cadmium......Page 220
Summary......Page 221
References......Page 222
Risk communication contexts......Page 228
Explaining the problem of scientific uncertainty......Page 229
Treatment of occupational/environmental reproductive toxicity......Page 230
Reporting sentinel events......Page 231
The importance of knowing your community......Page 232
Precautionary anticipatory guidance that clinicians can offer......Page 233
Reducing exposure to the plastic chemical, bisphenol-A......Page 234
The workplace setting......Page 235
The school and community setting......Page 236
Common questions......Page 237
Special concerns and issues around breastfeeding and infant formula......Page 238
References......Page 239
Introduction......Page 241
Defining the scope of the problem......Page 243
Approaches to address toxicity from environmental chemical exposures and the role of policy......Page 245
Sources and interpretation of data on potential adverse health effects......Page 246
North American chemicals policy......Page 249
Conclusion......Page 250
References......Page 251
Challenges......Page 254
References......Page 255
Index......Page 257