Decline in Semen Quality Among Fertile Men in Paris During the Past 20 Years

Auger, Jacques; Kunstmann, J.-M.; Czyglik, F; Jouannet, Pierre

doi:10.1097/00006254-199510000-00017

Cited by 229 publications

(308 citation statements)

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“…Semen quality in humans shows tremendous interindividual variability as well as intraindividual changes (Carlsen et al 1992;Auger et al 1995;Olsen et al1995;Sherins 1995). Furthermore, infertile males, similar to males with proven fertility, show a large inter-and intraindividual variation in this trait (Meschede et al 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased rate of nondisjunction in sex cells derived from low-quality semen

Finkelstein

Mukamel

Yavetz³

et al. 1998

Human Genetics

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The relationship between chromosomal nondisjunction and semen quality was studied in two groups of males who differ highly in their semen quality: 12 individuals with low-quality semen caused by varicocele, and 8 subjects with high-quality semen, selected from sperm donors for in vitro fertilization. Chromosomal nondisjunction was inferred from the rate of disomy found in mature sperm cells. To determine the rate of disomy, we applied fluorescence in situ hybridization using satellite-specific probes for chromosomes 1, 15, 18, X and Y. In sperm cells of males with low-quality semen, the mean rate of disomy for each of the autosomes and of hetero-disomy for the sex chromosomes (XY) was significantly higher than that observed in the high-quality semen samples: more than 15-fold higher for chromosomes 1 and 15, and 7-fold higher for chromosomes 18 and XY. Yet, the homo-disomy rate for each of the sex chromosomes (XX and YY) was almost the same in both types of semen. The large discrepancy between the low- and high-quality semen in the rate of sex chromosome hetero-disomy versus the similar rate of homo-disomy strongly suggests that the abnormal chromosomal segregation in meiocytes of males with low-quality semen resulted from chromosomal nondisjunction at the first meiotic division. The results indicate that men showing poor semen quality are at an increased risk for meiotic nondisjunction, similar to women at the end of their reproductive years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased rate of nondisjunction in sex cells derived from low-quality semen

Finkelstein

Mukamel

Yavetz³

et al. 1998

Human Genetics

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“…Reports indicating declining sperm counts in some regions [3,4] have also greatly stimulated hypotheses that environmental pollutants may impair male fertility [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors and semen quality

Jurewicz¹,

Hanke²,

Radwan³

et al. 2009

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

161

109

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Objectives: An increasing number of reports suggest that chemical and physical agents in the environment, introduced and spread by human activity, may affect male fertility in humans. This article aims at evaluating the impact of environmental exposures (pesticides, phthalates, PCBs, air pollution, trihalomethanes (THMs), mobile phones) on semen quality, by reviewing most recent published literature. Materials and Methods: Epidemiological studies focusing on exposure to environmental factors and semen quality for the last ten years were identified by a search of the Pubmed, Medline, Ebsco, Agricola and Toxnet literature bases. Results: The results from the presented studies suggest that there are strong and rather consistent indications that some pesticides besides DBCP (e.g. DDT/Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE], ethylenedibromide, organophosphates) affects sperm count. PCBs are detrimental to sperm motility. In case of air pollution, studies suggest a link between ambient air pollutants and various semen characteristics. Additional research is needed to corroborate this association and to establish the causal agents. Results of few studies on subfertile men demonstrate associations between phthalate levels commonly experienced by the public and impaired sperm quality (impact on sperm concentration, morphology, motility), but the findings have not been corroborated in studies of men from the general population. Mobile phones might adversely affect the quality of semen by decreasing mostly motility but also the sperm counts, viability and morphology. In spite of their consistent results, most of the studies are rather small. Association between exposure to THMs and poor semen quality was not observed. Conclusions: Epidemiological studies suggest awareness of environmental factors which may affect semen quality. In case both of well proven and disputable reproductive and developmental hazards, it is necessary to prevent parental exposure to the agents associated with those hazards.

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“…Over the last decade, concerns have been mounting over declining levels of semen quality (Auger et al 1995) and other global disorders of the male reproductive system (Paulozzi et al 1997). Environmental toxicants and industrial chemicals have been implicated as causative factors for the overall decline in male reproductive health (Tas et al 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%