Reproductive dysfunctions

Thaxton JP, Parkhurst CR. 1973. Abnormal mating behavior and reproductive dysfunction caused by mercury in Japanese quail. Proc Soc Exper Biol Med 144 252-255. 

Cullen MR, Kayne RD, Robins JM. 1984. Endocrine and reproductive dysfunction in men associated with occupational inorganic lead intoxication. Arch Environ Health 39 431-440. 

Schrag SD, Dixon RL. 1985. Occupational exposures associated with male reproductive dysfunction. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 25 567-592. 

The male and female gonads, as well as the placenta of pregnant females and, to a lesser extent, the adrenal cortex, produce a range of steroid hormones which regulate the development and maintenance of reproductive and related functions. As such, these steroid sex hormones have found medical application in the treatment of various reproductive dysfunctions. 

While it is premature to speculate upon the likely medical applications of IFN-t, the reduced toxicity exhibited by this molecule will encourage its immediate medical appraisal. The classification of t as an IFN also raises the intriguing possibility that other IFNs may yet prove useful in the treatment of some forms of reproductive dysfunctions in veterinary and human medicine. 

Numerous diagnostic methods have been developed to evaluate female reproductive dysfunction. Although these methods have rarely been used for occupational or environmental toxicological evaluations, they may be helpful in defining biological parameters and mechanisms related to female reproductive toxicity. If clinical observations link exposure to the reproductive effect of concern, these data will aid the assessment of adverse female reproductive toxicity. The following clinical observations include end-points that may be reported in case reports or epidemiological research studies. 

A loss of primary oocytes will irreversibly affect a woman s fecundity, but this is difficult to measure directly. Reproductive dysfunction can be studied by the evaluation of irregularities of menstrual cycles and onset of menarche and menopause. However, menstrual cyclicity and onset of menopause and menarche are affected by many parameters, such as age, genetics, nutritional status, stress, exercise, certain drugs and the use of contraceptives that alter endocrine feedback. The length of the menstrual cycle, particularly the follicular phase (before ovulation), can vary between individuals and may make it difficult to measure significant effects in groups of women (Burch et al., 1967 Treloar et al., 1967). 

A recent book edited by Dixon (ref. 10) addresses reproductive toxicology mostly from the physiological point of view. However, several chemically oriented chapters are of interest—such as those on reproductive effects of chemical agents, assessing risk of reproductive dysfunction associated with chemical exposure, and regulatory aspects of reproductive toxicity. 

Since the concern of this monograph is teratogens, the effects of chemicals on sperm and male reproduction are not dealt with. However, for readers interested in the latter a recent review article by Schrag and Dixon, "Occupational Exposures Associated with Male Reproductive Dysfunction" (ref. 20)is recommended. Chapters on various aspects of male reproductive toxicology and on sperm production of men working under heavy-metal or organic-solvent exposure are presented by Hemminki et al. (ref. 19). 

Reproductive Dysfunction in Women with Epilepsy Menstrual Cycle Abnormalities, Fertility, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome... 

Manganese Skeletal deformities Gonadal and reproductive dysfunction Defective cholesterol metabolism Brain abnormalities Respiratory illness Ataxia Motor neuron diseases... 

Wilsnack, S. C., KJassen, A. D., Wilsnack, R. W. (1984). I lrinking and reproductive dysfunction among women in a 1981 national survey. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, 8,... 

Human health biomonitoring may also use animal surrogates in the environment to assess potential health hazards to humans - the proverbial canary in the coal mine . For example, chemical and biomarker analysis of bodily fluids or tissue biopsies from family pets, especially dogs, are sometimes used to assess potential chemical exposure and effects in children. This is because dogs often accompany children in the outdoor environment, and both have a tendency to (accidentally or intentionally) consume environmental media such as soil and surface water There has also been an increasing trend to use native animals as sentinel species, that is, fish, wildlife, or invertebrates that are indicators of possible human health risks from environmental hazards. For example, increased incidences of tumors or endocrine disruption in fish may indicate the presence of compounds in the water that may cause cancer or reproductive dysfunction in humans. Concern has also been raised over the increased incidence of deformities in frogs, because these may indicate an increased level of chemicals in the environment, which can cause birth defects in humans. 

Matteson DR and Ross GT (1982) Oogenesis and ovulation. In Voulk J and Sheenan K (eds.) Methods for Assessing the Effects of Chemicals on Reproductive Dysfunction, pp. 217-247. New York Wiley-Interscience. 

Burbacher TM, Monnett C, Grant KS, et al. 1984. Methylmercury exposure and reproductive dysfunction in the nonhuman primate. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 75 18-24. 

Kumar S. Occupational exposure associated with reproductive dysfunction. J Occup Health 2004 46 1-19. 

Baker HWG, Burger HG, DeKretser DM, Hudson B. Relative incidence of etiologic disorders in male infertility. In Santen RJ, Swerdloff RS, eds. Male reproductive dysfunction. New York Marcel Dekker Inc, 1986 341-78. 

Barsotti DA, Marlar RJ, Allen JR. 1976. Reproductive dysfunction in Rhesus monkeys exposed to low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1248). Food Cosmet Toxicol 14 99-103. 

The esttogenic potential of soy isoflavones raised the question of the impact of theit intake on overall hormonal balance, particularly on female sex steroid actions. As early as in 1946, Austrahan veterinarians observed that phytoestrogens adversely affected reproduction in several animal species. The reproductive dysfunction in sheep known as... 

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