Reproductive toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl herbicide induces biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical alterations in the kidneys and testes of rats","authors":"Aml I. Barakat ,&nbsp;Ali Mohamed Eldib ,&nbsp;Atef MK Nassar ,&nbsp;Mohamed S.A. El-Gerbed ,&nbsp;Nada S. Badr","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108953","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108953","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Pesticide use, a global practice in agriculture, contributes to environmental contamination and poses significant health risks. This study investigates the impact of Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (FPE), a chiral herbicide, on renal function and male fertility in albino rats.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The study was conducted on 8-week-old male albino rats subjected to an experimental protocol as follows: the control group, a vehicle group, and two FPE-treated groups: one given 26 mg/kg and the other 157.5 mg/kg (1/20 LD₅₀) for 30 days. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and oxidative stress markers, comet assay assessment, histopathological examination, and immunohistochemical analysis were performed on renal and testicular tissues.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study shows that FPE-treated rats experience a dose-dependent increase in renal biomarkers, along with redox imbalance, and DNA damage, with kidney tissue alterations and increased expression of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha and fibrogenic marker transforming growth factor beta 1. Additionally, FPE-treated rats experience reduced sex hormones, along with redox imbalance, DNA damage, with testicular spermatogenic layer damage, and decreased proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Sub-chronic exposure to FPE induces renal damage, inflammation, and fibrosis, accompanied by disruptions in male reproductive health. The study emphasizes the intricate relationship between oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, and reproductive dysfunction.</div></div><div><h3>Data Availability</h3><div>Not applicable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108953"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of area-level and individual-level sociodemographic factors with adolescent phenotypes linked to subsequent cancer risk","authors":"Piera M. Cirillo ,&nbsp;Corinna Keeler ,&nbsp;Dana March Palmer ,&nbsp;Nickilou Y. Krigbaum ,&nbsp;Barbara A. Cohn","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108944","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Indices of Concentration at the Extremes (ICEs) serve as joint proxies for social and environmental hazards for health disparities. We tested the hypothesis that ICEs at birth predict timing of menarche and adolescent overweight and investigated whether ICE associations are mediated by individual-level variables.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this prospective study, a subset of offspring from the Child Health and Development Studies, born 1959–1967 in Oakland, CA were assessed for early age at menarche (&lt;12 vs. &gt;=12) and overweight body mass index, (BMI, <u>&gt;</u>25 kg/m²) at ages 15–17 years. ICEs characterizing neighborhood of birth were calculated using 1960 census tract data for race, income, education, and combined income/race. Associations between ICEs and maternal serum DDT levels were estimated using generalized linear models. Log-linear models estimated associations between ICEs with early menarche and adolescent overweight, adjusted for individual factors including race, socioeconomic status and perinatal serum DDTs and family clustering.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Address at birth was geocoded for 1749 (86.6 %); 42 % had overweight BMI; 15.6 % had early menarche. ICEs at birth predicted timing of menarche and adolescent overweight and were correlated with perinatal DDTs. Most ICE associations with adolescent outcomes were partly mediated by individual level socioeconomic variables, except for the income ICE association with early menarche [adjusted odds ratio: 1.6, 95 %CI:(1.0–2.6)].</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>ICEs are accessible metrics of area-level spatial and social segregation that were associated with adolescent overweight, early menarche and DDT exposure. ICEs are useful indicators of high-risk neighborhoods that can be targeted for individual and community-level prevention beginning at birth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"136 ","pages":"Article 108944"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms and rescue measures of female ovarian dysfunction induced by environmental endocrine chemicals: A review","authors":"Jinglei Zhang ,&nbsp;Nan Zhang ,&nbsp;Qingyun Mai ,&nbsp;Canquan Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108954","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108954","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental endocrine chemicals (EDCs) constitute a class of exogenous chemicals with the capacity to imitate or impede the processes of synthesis, secretion, transport, conjugation, reaction, and metabolism of natural hormones in living organisms. They elicit a broad spectrum of physiological effects, which may either mirror those of natural hormones or exhibit anti-natural characteristics. Prolonged exposure to EDCs has been demonstrated to exert significant effects on animal reproduction and development. It is noteworthy that the female reproductive system is more susceptible to the effects of EDCs than the male reproductive system. EDCs have the potential to cause significant damage to the structure and function of the female reproductive organs, and have been linked to an increased incidence of various tumors in the female reproductive system, including ovarian cancer. A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to EDCs affects reproduction in five main ways: competitively binding to cell membrane-specific receptors, disruption of cellular signaling within germ cells, intracellular imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, alteration of epigenetic modifications, and control of early apoptosis. Nevertheless, the same <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> studies have indicated that the reproductive toxicity produced by EDCs can also be attenuated in a multitude of ways, such as by antioxidants, hormones, and compensatory mechanisms of signal transduction. Through comprehensive analysis of epidemiological studies, laboratory experiments, and clinical observations, this review details the mechanisms of the effects of EDCs leading to ovarian dysfunction and proposes a series of strategies to prevent EDCs exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108954"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144143329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between Phthalate exposure and Reproductive Health in Patients Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Guangmei Xie, Yongjia Zhou, Li Wang, Yan Wang, Haijing Zeng, Jialing Wang, Xinyan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108948","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108948","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes current literature examining the relationship between phthalate exposure and reproductive health in patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART). We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and Wanfang databases. From 16 relevant publications identified, five studies were included in the systematic review and 11 in the meta-analysis. Our findings indicate that most of the 18 phthalate metabolites analyzed demonstrated negative associations with reproductive health outcomes in ART patients. High molecular weight phthalates, particularly mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), were most frequently linked to adverse outcomes, followed by metabolites such as mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP). Both high and low molecular weight phthalates, including monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and MiBP, were correlated with negative reproductive outcomes. However, no significant associations were observed between mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl terephthalate (MEHHTP) or mono-3-hydroxybutyl phthalate (MHBP) and reproductive health parameters. Our analysis suggests that phthalate exposure may adversely affect fertility, hormone levels, and gamete quality, while also being associated with pregnancy complications and oxidative stress. These findings underscore the need for further large-scale studies to confirm these relationships and their clinical implications.</p>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":" ","pages":"108948"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144143323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of micro- and nanoplastics on immune system development and functions: Current knowledge and future directions","authors":"Guillaume L. Lopez,&nbsp;Alain Lamarre","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108951","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108951","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The prevalence of microplastics (MPs)/ nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment has raised significant concerns regarding their potential toxicity, particularly their impact on biological systems. These particles, particularly NPs, possess unique properties due to their small size and high surface area, enabling them to more easily cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues. Among various types of plastic materials, polystyrene (PS) is one of the most studied for its toxicological effects, given its widespread use and environmental persistence. This narrative review examines current research on the effects of MPs/NPs, on the immune system, with a focus on both the development of the immune system and its functional responses. Evidence from <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> studies suggests that MP/NP exposure can disrupt immune function, including hematopoiesis, immune cell activation, and the production of inflammatory cytokines. Although <em>in vitro</em> studies highlight cellular toxicity and altered immune cell behavior, <em>in vivo</em> studies reveal more complex outcomes, with some findings suggesting significant effects on organ systems such as the spleen and intestines, while others indicate minimal or no impact under environmentally relevant exposure conditions. Here, we aim to consolidate and summarize the current evidence on the topic, highlight key limitations in the field, and identify areas that warrant further investigation for immunotoxicologists. In addition, we emphasize the importance of using relevant exposure concentrations and complex <em>in vitro</em> or <em>in vivo</em> models to better understand the potential risks associated with MP/NP exposure and their long-term implications for immune health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108951"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-weaning exposure to cannabidiol disrupts testicular cytoarchitecture and sperm quality in mice","authors":"Renata K. Carvalho ,&nbsp;Maingredy R. Souza ,&nbsp;Akemy N. Nishimura ,&nbsp;Edvaldo M. Silva ,&nbsp;Cinthia R.B. Silva ,&nbsp;Francisco S. Guimarães ,&nbsp;Monica L. Andersen ,&nbsp;Simone M.T. Sabóia-Morais ,&nbsp;Renata Mazaro-Costa","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108952","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108952","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural cannabinoid with a wide range of potential therapeutic applications, including as an anticonvulsant and for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It is known that CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which plays a crucial role in various physiological functions. However, its effects on male reproduction have not yet been fully elucidated. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the <em>in vivo</em> effects of CBD on testicular cytoarchitecture and sperm quality in mice. Twenty-one-day old male Swiss mice received intragastric doses of CBD (15 or 30 mg/kg/day) for 34 consecutive days. A control group received sunflower oil. Both doses of CBD reduced the number of Sertoli cells at stages VII–VIII, IX and XII of spermatogenesis. A significant decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive spermatocytes at stages VII–VIII was observed in the CBD15 group. In the interstitial compartment of the testis, no significant differences were found in the diameter and volume of Leydig cell nuclei or in the immunostaining of these cells for PCNA in the control and CBD-treated groups. Both doses of CBD reduced the percentage of viable spermatozoa and the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa. These findings suggest that daily exposure to CBD may reduce sperm quality, and the mechanisms responsible may be related to perturbations in the endocannabinoid system during spermatogenesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108952"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144116892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cadmium induces autophagy via IRE1 signaling pathway activated by Ca2 + in GC-2spd cells","authors":"Yue Han ,&nbsp;Juan Dai ,&nbsp;Jinxin Cheng ,&nbsp;Yan He ,&nbsp;Chengkun Zhao ,&nbsp;Rui Li ,&nbsp;Yaqin Zhang ,&nbsp;Ling Zhang ,&nbsp;Ting Zhou ,&nbsp;Yuqin Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108950","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108950","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cadmium (Cd), an environmental toxicant, accumulates in the human body and damages the male reproductive system. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd-induced reproductive toxicity, we used GC-2spd cells and treated them with CdCl₂. Additionally, we added 2-APB (an inhibitor of the IP3R) and STF-083010 (an inhibitor of IRE1) to investigate whether they could ameliorate Cd-induced reproductive toxicity. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry confirmed that CdCl₂-treated GC-2spd cells displayed imbalance of calcium homeostasis, with upregulation of the expression of the IP3R, a key pathway for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺ release. Furthermore, the ER stress (ERS) effector protein IRE1 expression was also increased, suggesting that Cd activated ERS and the IRE1 pathway by disrupting calcium homeostasis. Previous studies have shown that ERS induces autophagy. We performed the MDC assay to detect autophagosome formation, revealing increased expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3-II/LC3-I and Beclin-1 in response to Cd treatment. In contrast, treatment with 2-APB and STF-083010 inhibited autophagy and mitigated cell death. This inhibitory effect may be due to 2-APB blocking IP3R-mediated Ca²⁺ release, alleviating imbalance of calcium homeostasis, while STF-083010 inhibits IRE1, restoring ER homeostasis and reducing autophagy. These findings suggest that imbalance of calcium homeostasis activates the IRE1 pathway-mediated ERS, leading to excessive autophagy and male reproductive toxicity. Conversely, the addition of 2-APB and STF-083010 reversed these effects, synergistically restoring intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis and inhibiting ERS to promote cell health. This study provides a new therapeutic strategy for Cd-induced male reproductive disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108950"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case-control study on the link between trace element exposure in follicular fluid and premature ovarian insufficiency","authors":"Xiaowen Liu ,&nbsp;Zewei Yu ,&nbsp;Yangying Xu ,&nbsp;Wei Xue ,&nbsp;Xin Du ,&nbsp;Guanghui Yuan ,&nbsp;Xiaoxiao Wang ,&nbsp;Yingxue Liu ,&nbsp;Shuyuan Chen ,&nbsp;Cuifang Hao ,&nbsp;Duan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108947","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108947","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), affecting 3.5 % of women under 40, significantly impacts reproductive health. The unknown etiology in over 50 % of POI cases impedes accurate diagnosis and treatment. Evidence shows that environmental agents can adversely affect health and reduce fertility. Trace elements are critical pollutants impacting human health. However, research on populations with POI and their links to these elements is limited. We enrolled 367 female patients, dividing them into a POI group and a control group. We employed ICP-MS to measure 25 trace elements in follicular fluid. Bayesian kernel machine regression analyzed combined exposure effects and restricted cubic splines evaluated the relationships between individual trace elements and ovarian reserve markers, focusing on anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and basal FSH (bFSH). Logistic regression assessed the association between specific element concentrations and POI occurrence, and the posterior inclusion probability model tested the robustness of key driving factors. The study identified 24 trace elements in follicular fluid samples, revealing significant differences in 23 elements between the two groups. There were positive correlations between Cu, I, Se, and Zn with AMH levels, while negative correlations were observed for Ca, Co, Li, and AMH. Nonlinear relationships were noted for Ba, Cd, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, and Pb. Ca, Li, and Ni showed a significant positive correlation with bFSH, while Cu, I, Mg, Se, and Zn demonstrated a significant negative correlation with bFSH. Additionally, Ba, Mn, and Pb exhibited a nonlinear correlation with bFSH. Individuals in the medium and high tertiles for Cu, I, Pb, Se, and Zn were less likely to develop POI. In contrast, those in the medium and high tertiles for Ba, Ca, Cd, Li, Mn, and Ni had an increased likelihood of POI. Our study addresses a crucial gap by examining trace element exposure in follicular fluid and its link to POI risk, enhancing understanding of their effects on female ovarian function. This study lays a foundation for monitoring female fertility and emphasizes the importance of environmental pollutants on reproductive health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108947"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144089614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of the environmental endocrine disruptor flutamide on cryptorchidism: Molecular mechanisms involving connexin-43 and p38-MAPK signaling","authors":"Yu Zhou ,&nbsp;Yifan Hong ,&nbsp;Shengwen Wang ,&nbsp;Luna He ,&nbsp;Yan Cui ,&nbsp;Yinghua Wu ,&nbsp;Fuli Yan ,&nbsp;Chunlan Long ,&nbsp;Jing Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cryptorchidism, a condition associated with male infertility, is exacerbated by exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors such as flutamide. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of cryptorchidism and potential interventions targeting endocrine disruptor-induced testicular damage. A rat model of congenital cryptorchidism was established via prenatal flutamide exposure, and testes were harvested at postnatal day 90. Testicular histology, transcriptome sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, sperm analysis, immunohistochemistry, and lentiviral vector transfection were conducted. Cryptorchid testes exhibited impaired seminiferous tubule development, significant reductions in sperm count, and increased sperm abnormalities. Tight and gap junction proteins essential for blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity, including Claudin-11, Occludin, and Connexin-43, were markedly downregulated. Transcriptomic analysis revealed activation of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and excessive apoptosis in cryptorchid testes. Overexpression of Connexin-43 restored BTB integrity and suppressed the p38 MAPK pathway, rescuing spermatogenesis. These findings underscore the role of environmental anti-androgens in cryptorchidism pathogenesis and highlight Connexin-43 as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating testicular damage caused by endocrine disruptors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108945"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasticizer exposure and reproductive dysfunction: Assessing bisphenol A and phthalate esters impact on ovarian reserve in women with PCOS-associated infertility","authors":"Jalpa Patel ,&nbsp;Hiral Chaudhary ,&nbsp;Sonal Panchal ,&nbsp;Rushikesh Joshi","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108949","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108949","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, frequently causing infertility. This study investigates the influence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on ovarian reserve parameters in women with PCOS-related infertility. A cohort of 61 women with PCOS, aged 29.90 ± 3.64 years, was recruited from Dr. Nagori’s Institute for Infertility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Serum levels of Bisphenol A (BPA), Mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), and Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ovarian reserve markers were assessed, including antral follicle count (AFC) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. Hormonal profiles and metabolic parameters were also analyzed. Correlations between EDCs and ovarian reserve markers were evaluated using Pearson correlation and regression analyses. The study found serum mean levels of BPA (77.80 ± 51.82 ng/ml), MEHP (37.43 ± 19.85 μg/ml), and DEHP (5.77 ± 7.21 μg/ml). Participants exhibited typical PCOS hormonal profiles with elevated testosterone and AMH levels, and significant insulin resistance was observed. Correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between AMH levels and AFC (r = 0.47, p = 0.01). However, no significant associations were found between EDC exposure and ovarian reserve markers. A high prevalence of adenomyosis and bilateral polycystic ovaries was noted among the participants. While metabolic and hormonal disruptions are prominent in PCOS, the direct impact of EDCs on ovarian reserve parameters appears minimal. This study highlights the necessity of addressing metabolic health and environmental exposures in managing PCOS related infertility to improve reproductive outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 108949"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144069085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}