Abstract
Exposure of humans and wildlife to pollutants released in the environment is a centre of attention nowadays. Many of these chemicals (generally referred to as environmental pollutants) have been shown to interfere with normal hormonal signalling and biological functions, leading to reproductive disorders or infertility, which has been a matter of concern within the recent decades. The present paper reviews adverse effects of these toxicants on mammalian testes, with emphasis on alteration of steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and histopathological effects. From the publications reviewed, it appears that environmental toxicants, especially heavy metals and organic chemicals of synthetic and microbiological origins, disrupt hormone production and action in the mammalian testes. Endocrine disruption leads to disorders of testicular function and thereby compromises the normal phenotypic development of male sexual characteristics, initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis. The toxicants also induce impairment of testicular cells function, testicular histology, and sperm cells function directly. The release of the toxicants in the environment is still ongoing, despite alarming quantities that already exist in the atmosphere. If appropriate measures are not taken, their impact on the male reproductive function and especially on testicular function will be more serious.
Keywords: Hormone, mammal, spermatogenesis, testis, toxicity.
Current Molecular Pharmacology
Title:Effect of Environmental Contaminants on Mammalian Testis
Volume: 7
Author(s): Faustin P. T. Manfo, Edouard A. Nantia and Premendu P. Mathur
Affiliation:
Keywords: Hormone, mammal, spermatogenesis, testis, toxicity.
Abstract: Exposure of humans and wildlife to pollutants released in the environment is a centre of attention nowadays. Many of these chemicals (generally referred to as environmental pollutants) have been shown to interfere with normal hormonal signalling and biological functions, leading to reproductive disorders or infertility, which has been a matter of concern within the recent decades. The present paper reviews adverse effects of these toxicants on mammalian testes, with emphasis on alteration of steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and histopathological effects. From the publications reviewed, it appears that environmental toxicants, especially heavy metals and organic chemicals of synthetic and microbiological origins, disrupt hormone production and action in the mammalian testes. Endocrine disruption leads to disorders of testicular function and thereby compromises the normal phenotypic development of male sexual characteristics, initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis. The toxicants also induce impairment of testicular cells function, testicular histology, and sperm cells function directly. The release of the toxicants in the environment is still ongoing, despite alarming quantities that already exist in the atmosphere. If appropriate measures are not taken, their impact on the male reproductive function and especially on testicular function will be more serious.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Manfo P. T. Faustin, Nantia A. Edouard and Mathur P. Premendu, Effect of Environmental Contaminants on Mammalian Testis, Current Molecular Pharmacology 2014; 7 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467208666150126155420
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874467208666150126155420 |
Print ISSN 1874-4672 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1874-4702 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Synthesis of Dihydropyridines: Patented Catalysts and Biological Applications
Recent Patents on Catalysis (Discontinued) Clinical Aspects of Clara Cell 10-kDa Protein / Uteroglobin (Secretoglobin 1A1)
Current Pharmaceutical Design Inhibitory Effects of Bisphosphonates on the Proliferation of Human Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines and the Mechanism
Medicinal Chemistry Carbohydrates: Potential Sweet Tools Against Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Editorial: Signalling Pathways in Virus-caused Cancers
Current Cancer Drug Targets Inhibiting the “Undruggable” RAS/Farnesyltransferase (FTase) Cancer Target by Manumycin-related Natural Products
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeted Drug Delivery to Cancer Stem Cells through Nanotechnological Approaches
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy A Comprehensive Review on Exosomes and Microvesicles as Epigenetic Factors
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Cucurbitacin IIb from Ibervillea sonorae Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest via STAT3 Inhibition
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry New Strategies in the Development of Antidepressants: Towards the Modulation of Neuroplasticity Pathways
Current Pharmaceutical Design Is Metformin a Therapeutic Paradigm for Colorectal Cancer: Insight into the Molecular Pathway?
Current Drug Targets Exploration of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Modulators by Molecular Fingerprints and Docking Simulations
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Nanomedical Platform for Drug Delivery in Cancer
Current Organic Chemistry Applications of High Content Screening in Life Science Research
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Applications of Artificial Neural Networks in Medical Science
Current Clinical Pharmacology Global Gene Expression in Classification, Pathogenetic Understanding and Identification of Therapeutic Targets in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Recent Developments Towards the Synthesis of Varitriol: An Antitumour Agent from Marine Derived Fungus Emericella Variecolor
Current Organic Synthesis Mapping the High Throughput SEREX Technology Screening for Novel Tumor Antigens
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Novel Classes of Dimer Antitumour Drug Candidates
Current Pharmaceutical Design Exploring the Potential of NO-Independent Stimulators and Activators of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase for the Medical Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Current Pharmaceutical Design