Endocrine Disruptors and Reproductive Health in Males

Nowadays, endocrine-disrupting chemicals are considered to be one of the main causes of the ever-increasing occurrence of problems with male fertility. These compounds of natural or anthropogenic origin are omnipresent in the environment and organisms are exposed to them practically nonstop through the air, water, food, and occupationally. Endocrine disruptors have the ability to mimic effects of reproductive hormones and demonstrably can interfere with the endocrine system leading to reproductive disorders at different levels, and considering male reproductive functions, most of the impacts are performed by the breakdown of estrogen- or androgen-mediated processes. A significant body of evidence based upon laboratory or wildlife animal experiments and meta-analysis of semen studies in men indicates that exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds is associated with male reproductive malfunctions, including impairment of spermatogenesis followed by reduced semen quality parameters (sperm concentration, motility, and morphology). Alkylphenols, bisphenol, and phthalates are substantial components of many products with which people come into contact daily. This brief review will emphasize on the possible effects of alkylphenols, bisphenol, and phthalates on the male reproductive system, and current research efforts related to these substances mainly in the context of two main processes taking place in testicular tissues—steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis

Radical scavenging activity of Chlorophytum borivilianum L. root extract and its protective role in cauda epididymal sperm integrity in Mus musculus after gamma irradiation

Background:Chlorophytumborivilianum L. is a recognized herbal medicine for the management of impotency in South Asian countries. In Ayurveda, it is used for the management of multiple health conditions, including diabetes, infection, and cardiovascular diseases. Parts of the plant have been used as excellent antioxidants and scavengers of free radicals. Since oxidative stress plays an important role in spermatogenesis and fertility in male populations, this study evaluated the role of ethanolic extract of C. borivilianum roots in epididymal sperm maturation against adversities posed by ionizing gamma irradiation.Materials and methods: Antioxidant potential of C. borivilianum root extract (CRE) was evaluated through DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) and NO (nitric oxide) scavenging assays. Four groups of healthy Swiss albino mice were constituted, which were labeled as follows: Group I: sham control, Group II: 7-day pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg CRE, Group III: 6 Gy irradiation without pre-treatment, and Group IV: 7-day pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg CRE and 6 Gy irradiation on day 7. Swiss albino mice were observed for 30 days and later sacrificed to evaluate sperm quality parameters.Results: CRE showed a remarkable antioxidant potential with IC50 values of 46.37 μg/ml and 98.39 μg/ml for DPPH and NO, respectively. A significant decline (p < 0.001) in cauda epididymal sperm count, motility, and viability was observed in Group III animals. Group IV also showed a substantial decline (p < 0.01) in all three parameters compared to Group I; nonetheless, these were significantly higher than Group III. Morphological alterations indicated a coiled and bent tail, with the presence of cytoplasmic droplets in Group III, which declined substantially in Group IV. The ultrastructure of sperm indicated higher curvature of hook in Group III than Group IV, indicating specific interferences in the sperm maturation process.Conclusion: It was concluded that pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg body weight of CRE could protect sperm during epididymal maturation against oxidative stress

Identification of Concentration Dependent in vitro effect of Bisphenol F on H295R Cell Viability, Membrane Integrity and Lysosomal Function

In recent years, the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) has been regulated in many countries because of its potential adverse effects on human health. As a result of the restriction, structural analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF) have already been used for industrial applications as alternatives to BPA. Although much information on the endocrine activity of BPA is available, a proper human hazard assessment of analogues that are believed to have a less harmful toxicity profile is lacking. The aim of our in vitro study was to assess the potential effect of BPF on H295R cell viability, membrane integrity and lysosomal function. Adrenocortical carcinoma cells were cultivated during 24 h in the presence of BPF (0.1, 0.5, 1, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 300, 500 μM). Metabolic activity decreased with increasing dose of BPF - from 10 μM (84.33 ± 4.31%). A significant increase in metabolic activity after 24 hours of exposure was observed after cultivation with 0.1 μM BPF (111.50 ± 3.89%) and a slight was observed after cultivation with 1 μM BPF (101,70 ± 1.61%). Exposure doses of BPF caused a slight increase in esterase activity at the lowest concentrations and a significant decrease at higher concentrations. We observed a slight increase in lysosomal function after cultivation with 0.1 and 1 μM, higher exposure doses (25 - 500 μM) caused decrease in lysosomal function. The obtained results confirmed that BPF at higher concentrations caused cytotoxicity. A substitution of BPA by BPF should be thus considered with caution

Neonicotinoids: Agrochemicals with Toxic Impact on Reproductive Functions in Males

In general, agrochemicals are compounds used to control weeds and diseases in crops during many agronomic practices, and they have become an essential tool in crop protection [...

Exceptional Properties of Lepidium sativum L. Extract and Its Impact on Cell Viability, Ros Production, Steroidogenesis, and Intracellular Communication in Mice Leydig Cells In Vitro

The prevalence of reproductive dysfunction in males has risen in the last few years, and alternative therapies are gradually gaining in popularity. Our in vitro study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of Lepidium sativum L. on mice TM3 Leydig cells, concerning basal parameters such as cell viability, cell membrane integrity, and lysosomal activity, after 24 h and 48 h exposure. Moreover, reactive oxygens species generation, sex-steroid hormone secretion, and intercellular communication were quantified. In the present study, the microgreen extract from Lepidium was rich in ferulic acid, 4-OH benzoic acid, and resveratrol, with a significant antioxidant activity. The results showed that lower experimental doses (62.5–250 µg/mL) could positively affect the observed parameters, with significant differences at 250 µg/mL after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Potential risks could be associated with higher concentrations, starting at 500 µg/mL, 1000 µg/mL, and 2000 µg/mL of Lepidium. Nevertheless, biochemical quantification indicated a significant antioxidant potential and a rich content of biologically active molecules at the applied doses, and time determined the intracellular response of the cultured model