From Oxidative Stress to Male Infertility: Review of the Associations of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (Bisphenols, Phthalates, and Parabens) with Human Semen Quality

Irma Virant-Klun; Senka Imamovic-Kumalic; Bojana Pinter

doi:10.3390/antiox11081617

journal article Open Access Aug 20, 2022

From Oxidative Stress to Male Infertility: Review of the Associations of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (Bisphenols, Phthalates, and Parabens) with Human Semen Quality

Irma Virant-Klun Senka Imamovic-Kumalic Bojana Pinter

Antioxidants Vol. 11 No. 8 pp. 1617 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/antiox11081617

Abstract

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may result in oxidative stress and endocrine system disturbance, which can have an impact on human reproduction and development. In male reproductive health, EDCs have been related to impaired reproductive function and male infertility, altered fetal development, and testicular germ-cell, prostate, and breast cancers. We conducted an electronic search using PubMed on endocrine disruptors related to oxidative stress and male infertility, and evaluated their association with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (bisphenols, phthalates, and parabens) in 25 articles. Higher levels of urinary bisphenols showed correlation with impaired semen quality and increased DNA damage. Considering phthalates and their metabolites, all studies found a positive association between urinary levels of phthalates and at least one semen parameter indicative of low semen quality; some studies also revealed sperm DNA damage. The studies on parabens less often revealed correlation of urinary parabens concentrations with a decrease in sperm count, as well as motility and DNA damage. Moreover, EDCs can elevate ROS production and lipid peroxidation, increase apoptosis, induce epigenetic modifications, and change the Y:X sperm chromosome ratio and sperm protein composition. Our review revealed detrimental effects of EDCs on semen quality and sperm DNA integrity—especially in BPA and phthalates, but also in parabens.

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Details

Published: Aug 20, 2022
Vol/Issue: 11(8)
Pages: 1617
License: View

Authors

I

Irma Virant-Klun

Clinical Research Centre, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

S

Senka Imamovic-Kumalic

Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

B

Bojana Pinter

Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slajmerjeva 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Funding

University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Cite This Article

Irma Virant-Klun, Senka Imamovic-Kumalic, Bojana Pinter (2022). From Oxidative Stress to Male Infertility: Review of the Associations of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (Bisphenols, Phthalates, and Parabens) with Human Semen Quality. Antioxidants, 11(8), 1617. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11081617

From Oxidative Stress to Male Infertility: Review of the Associations of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (Bisphenols, Phthalates, and Parabens) with Human Semen Quality

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