Xenoestrogens – Impact on Reproduction
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1
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Pharmacology, Greece
Xenoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors α and β and increase the expression of estrogen responsive genes. Although they bind to estrogen receptors with much weaker affinity than estradiol, they may act as estrogen receptor agonists or mixed agonists/antagonists and may disrupt the endocrine system by modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Phytoestrogens have become a major component in the typical Western diet over the last few decades, mainly due to introduction of soy in Western diet. Although soy has been related with beneficial effect in menopause and protective effects in cancer and other diseases, concern has been raised about potential adverse effects due to estrogen disrupting activity and possible effect on human fertility.
Common types of phytoestrogens in human diet include flavones, lignans, isoflavones and coumestans. The compounds with the most potent estrogenic activity are genistein (found in soy), resveratrol (found in grapes) and coumestrol (found in clover). Phytoestrogens have been related to low sperm counts and disturbed sperm function, as well as to gonadal dysgenesis when consumed during pregnancy. The use of soy milk as an alternative to breast or cow milk is of particular concern, since the most vulnerable periods for estrogenic insult are thought to be the pre- and neonatal periods, when irreversible damage can be inflicted on the developing germinal epithelium.
Environmental xenoestrogens include polychlorinated insecticides like DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), parabens, phthalates, nonylphenol, octylphenol, dioxin and other substances found in common household products, as well as in environment highly contaminated with organochlorines from chemical industries that use great amounts of chlorine. Animal species living in such an environment – birds, fish and small mammals – are unable to reproduce successfully due to high body burdens of various xenoestrogens. There is a possible link between estrogenic pollutants and falling sperm counts in men. Environmental xenoestrogens, like dioxin and PCB’s have been linked to higher levels of endometriosis in female monkeys and great increase in ectopic pregnancies in humans.
Environmental protection policy is necessary, and further studies must be carried out to assess the risk of exposure to xenoestrogens, and the effect of our modern life and diet on future fertility and health.
Keywords:
xenoestrogens,
Phytoestrogens,
Reproduction,
estrogen disrupters
Conference:
8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1 Oct - 5 Oct, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Invited speaker
Topic:
Xenobiotics and reproduction
Citation:
Papaioannidou
P
(2010). Xenoestrogens – Impact on Reproduction.
Front. Pharmacol.
Conference Abstract:
8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fphar.2010.60.00178
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Received:
28 Oct 2010;
Published Online:
04 Nov 2010.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Paraskevi Papaioannidou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Pharmacology, Thessaloniki, Greece, ppap@auth.gr