Female reproductive function

Breast Cancer. Many studies have observed low incidences of hormone-dependent cancers, particularly breast cancer, in Asian countries compared with Western countries and it is becoming increasingly accepted that dietary factors play an important role. Although breast cancer can occur in either males or females, only about 1 % of all cases occur in men, and male breast cancer is a rare disease in all parts of the world." Although there appear to be some similar risk factors for breast cancer in males and females, there is no indication in the literature that diet is either a risk or a protective factor for male breast cancer. The development of breast cancer is known to be highly dependent on the hormones associated with female reproductive functions, while established genetic factors have been... 

Manson JM, Murphy M, Richdale N, et al. 1984. Effect of oral exposure to trichloroethylene on female reproductive function. Toxicology 32 229-242. 

Liu J, Yu K, Tong S, el al. 1988. [Study on mutagenesis of lead and its influence on female reproductive function] Bulletin of Hunan Medical College 13 132-135. (Japanese)... 

Zhou R. 1986. [Effects of lead on female reproductive function and lead poisoning in children.] Zhonghua Laodong Weisheng Zhivebing Zazhi 4 226-228. (Chinese)... 

FSH and LH play critical roles in the development and maintenance of male and, particularly, female reproductive function (Box 11.3). hCG, produced by pregnant women, plays a central role in maintaining support systems for the developing embryo during early pregnancy. All three are... 

C. Implantation to closure of the hard palate Adult female reproductive functions and development of Segment I Segment II Segment I Segment II Segment II Multigeneration One-generation developmental toxicity Developmental neurotoxicity... 

Adult female reproductive function, fetal development, and growth and organ development and growth. 

The term reproductive toxicity is used to describe the adverse effects induced by a substance on any aspect of mammalian reproduction and covers all phases of the reproductive cycle, including impairment of male or female reproductive function or capacity and the induction of nonheritable adverse effects in the progeny such as death, growth retardation, structural and functional effects (EC 2003). 

Trichlorophenol did not affect litter size or survival of pups to postnatal day 4. Pup weight was decreased at birth with the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg per day. This effect was transient and was not significant when corrected for litter size. Male and female reproductive functions were not affected at any dose level (Blackburn et al., 1986). 

Premating to conception (adult male and female reproductive functions, development and maturation of gametes, mating behavior, fertilization)... 

Conception to implantation (adult female reproductive functions, preimplantation development, blasto-genesis, implantation)... 

Martinez de la Escalera GH, Weiner R (1988) Dopamine removal a selective signal for prolactin release and lactotroph responsiveness. In Genazzani AR (Ed), The Brain and Female Reproductive Function, Front. Gynecol. Endocrinol. Series, pp. 145-155. The Parthenon Pub. Group, New Jersey. 

For the purposes of this chapter, the term reproduction will be used primarily in reference to vertebrate species of animals (especially mammals) and will be inclusive of development (Figure 36.1), which is sometimes treated as a separate topic in toxicology texts. This particular chapter emphasizes what is currently known about the adverse effects of known chemical warfare agents and selected environmental contaminants on male and female reproductive function, as well as xenobiotic-induced effects on the growth, maturation, and sexual differentiation of the embryo and fetus. Endocrine disruption is an extremely common mechanism of action for xenobiotics associated with impaired reproductive function and will be discussed along... 

Any xenobiotic associated with adverse effects on development of male or female reproductive function can be classified as a reproductive toxicant (Evans, 2007 Rogers and Kavlock, 2008). Even chemicals adversely affecting animal well-being have a potential negative impact on development and reproductive function. This chapter will attempt to focus on toxicants which are available for or could arise from military and terrorist activities and specific mechanisms of actions which have a direct effect upon the male and/or female reproductive tract or which target normal embryonic and/or fetal growth and maturation (Evans, 2007). 

No information is available concerning any potential effects of valerian on female reproductive function. However, Mkrtchyan and colleagues reported that valerian had no effect on human male sterility (49). 

Many of the observed Great Lakes region toxic effects are attributed to persistent toxic chemical compounds. TCDD is associated with human thyroid hormone fluctuation, problems in male reproductive function, and neurological malfunction. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and methyl mercury (MeHg) are associated with human thyroid hormone fluctuation, problems in female reproductive function, neurological and neurodevelopmental problems. These effects, summarized in Table 13.1, illustrate the difficulty in attributing a particular toxic effect to a single chemical, particularly when one considers the potential impacts of thousands of other chemicals. 

It has been reported that -50% of infertility problems are male in origin. However, male infertility often goes undetected, because low sperm count or abnormal sperm motility, combmed with normal female reproductive function, merely results in delayed conception. Most infertile men (80%) will not have a definable cause and are said to have so-called idiopathic impaired sperm function. In about 20% of cases, a cause can be determined. A study at Monash University Infertility Clinic in Australia indicated that primary testicular failure accounted for 11% of male patients seen 8.5% had genital tract obstruction, 0.5% had hypothalamic-pituitary disease, and less than 1% had coital disorders or abnormal sperm. A fist of the most common male infertility factors is given in Box 53-4. 

Pettigrew, R. and Hamilton-Fairley, D. (1997). Obesity and female reproductive function. Br. Med. Bull. 53,341-358. 

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