Effects of environmental chemicals and drugs on reproductive endocrine system

Abstract

Commonly found in ecosystems, endocrine disruptors are a large group of natural or synthetic compounds and xenobiotics that are toxic to the endocrine system of a living organism. The pesticides, herbicides, and hormonally active substances that are widely used in agriculture and industrial compounds are among the endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disrupters interfere with the immune system, thyroid functions, reproductive systems, and intrauterine life of a living organism. Endocrine disruptors show their oestrogenic, anti-oestrogenic, antiandrogenic, and androgenic effects by activating hormone biosynthesis, secretion, transport, degradation, receptors, or postreceptors. Effects of endocrine disruptors on male genital tract can be observed in estrogenic effects that cause delayed puberty, and, more importantly, reduction in androgen production of Leydig cells. Promycine, linuron, vinclozin, p,p'DDT, dioxin, phthalates, genistein, resveratrol, and bisphenol A are among the natural or synthetic chemicals that alter Leydig cell function. On the other hand, endocrine disruptors such as diethylstilbesterol, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane/dichlorodiphenyl-dichloro ethylene , methoxychlor, bisphenol A, polychlorinated biphenyls A, polychlorinatedbiphenyl, dioxins, and phthalates cause premature thelarche and precocious puberty with their estrogenic effects in girls. Atrazine, trenbolan acetate, lead, and vinclozis are among the other endocrine disruptors that may cause late puberty in girls. This article is a review of the recent publications that study the influences of endocrine disruptors on endocrine systems during puberty and adolescence, the growth and development periods of children.