• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1180-1186
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• 1999

A wide ranges of chemicals released into the environment have potential to interfere with physiological and development process by disrupting endocrine pathways. Endocrine system embraces a multitude of mechanisms of action, including effect on growth, behavior, reproduction and immune function. These environmental endocrine disruptors are present in environment and pose potential health consequences to human and wildlife. The best known form in endocrine distruptors involves substances which mimic or block the action of natural hormone in the body. Endocrine disruptor have been variously defined as exogenous agents that interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action or elimination of the natural hormones in the body which are responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction developmental and/or behavior. Many compounds polluted into the environment by human activity are capable of disrupting the endocrine system of animals, including fish, wildlife, and humans. Among these chemicals are pesticides, industrial chemicals, and other anthropogenic products. It has been alleged that several adverse effects on human health are linked with exposure to chemicals which are claimed to be endocrine disrupters, that is, increased incidence of testicular, prostate and female breast cancer, time dependent reductions in sperm quality and quantity, increased incidence of cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and hypospadias(malformation of the penis), altered physical and mental de velopment in children. This observation is currently the only example of chemically mediated endocrine disruption which has resulted in a clear effect at the population level.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2002

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals which can be found in our normal daily life. They can be easily ingested through plastic food containers, pesticides, etc. They include DDT, bisphenol A, benzophenone and phenylphenol, etc. Endocrine disruptor can be very harmful and toxic because it disrupts the normal function of the endogenous endocrine system. It has been reported that endocrine disruptor can cause the fatal strike in reproductive system central nervous system and the other part of the body. We have examined if the growth of lactic acid bacteria could be resistant to the endocrine disruptor. We have used Lactobacillus delbruekii as an experimental strain and benzophenone and phenylphenol for the comparison purpose. Experiments included the evaluation of turbidity, absorbance and actual cell counts. Although Lactobacillus delbruekii showed the higher resistance to benzophenone than phenylphenol it was still resistant to both benzophenone and phenylphenol. Because the experimental concentrations of benzophenone and phenylphenol were so high to compare with the actual concentration we meet in daily life, Lactobacillus delbruekii was considered to be sufficient to survive in the environmental concentration of these endocrine disruptors. This study should contribute to the development of fermented beverage with beneficial effect by lactic acid bacteria.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.128-128
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• 2002

In association with the international validation project to establish a test protocol for the "Enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407", we performed a 28-day repeated-dose toxicity study of vinclozolin (VCZ), an androgen antagonist, and ketoconazole (KCZ), a biosynthesis inhibitor of testosterone (T), and assessed the sensitivity of new parameters for detecting endocrine-related effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.128-128
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• 2002

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.379-384
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• 1998

Endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance that changes endocrine function and causes adverse effects at the level of the organism, its progeny, and/or (sub)populations of the organisms. Purported adverse effects are cancers, declines in reproductive health, developmental learning disabilities in humans, and declining populations, altered morphology, physiology or behavior in wildlife. In these days, expert groups on chemicals in IPCS, IFCS and OECD are intensively discussing the identification of endocrine disruptors and the proper management of those chemicals. In this study, we screened the endocrine disrupting effects of lead using fertilized eggs of Oryzias latipes. In brief, the eggs were exposed to lead with different concentrations at Ringer's solution, and the mortality, the incidence of deformation, the body movement and the hatching success were determined after incubation. The histological analysis of normal and deformed larvae was also carried out. Compared to control, the mortality and the heart rate of eggs and/or larvae increased, but the hatching success and the tail movement decreased. The morphological observation showed the asymmetrical deformation of larvae and the distortion of spinal cord. The absorption of the liquid in yolk sac was hindered. The adverse effects of lead in the ontogeny of fertilized eggs of Oryzias latipes seemed to be stronger in pH5.6 than in pH7.5 solution. In summary, lead showed adverse effects on the ontogeny of fish fertilized eggs plays critical role in regulating biological systems and controlling developmental processes as an endocrine disruptor.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2002

Substantial evidences have been accumulated about the hormone-like effects of exogenous substances such as pesticides and industrial chemicals during past years. The effects of these substances on the endocrine system are believed to be either enhancing or reducing of various endocrine action. It is necessary to identify putative causal agents by the batter system and to assess their ability to disrupt the endocrine system. A variety of in vitro and In vivo approaches have been used to determine the androgenic effects of environmental chemicals. To establish the method for assessment of the putative endocrine disruptors with androgenic activity, we carried out the cell proliferation assay by MTS method after treatment with the various concentration of testosterone in LNCaP cells (human prostatic cancer cell line) and also observed the expression of androgen-related genes by quantitative RT-PCR. In the cell proliferation assay, the results showed that the grouth of LNCaP cells increased within level of at least 10pM testosterone. We measured by quantitative RT-PCR method on the effects of testosterone on mRNA expression of androgen receptor (AR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and BMP receptor (BMPR) In LNCaP cells. The results demonstrated that mRNA expression of PSA and BMPR-IB was observed differently within level of at least 0.01 pM testosterone compared with non-treated control. These observations suggest that the detection of PSA and BMPR-IB mRNA by the quantitative RT-PCR in LNCaP cells is very sensitive method to identify the endocrine disruptors to have the androgenic effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1309-1313
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• 2009

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals which can be found in our normal daily lives. Chemicals such as bisphenol A, DDT, benzophenone and phenylphenol can be easily ingested through plastic food containers and pesticides. Endocrine disruptors can be very harmful and toxic because they disrupt the normal function of the endocrine system. It has been reported that endocrine disruptions can cause fatal strikes in the cardiovascular, reproductive, and central nervous systems, and other parts of the body. Therefore we examined if benzophenone as an endocrine disruptor inhibits development in or induces malformation of chick embryos. Chick embryos which received a single injection of benzophenone ($1{\mu}g$/egg $\sim$ $500{\mu}g$/egg) via the yolk sac at designated times (6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days after incubation) were investigated. Body weight reduction was observed in middle doses ($40{\mu}g$/egg $\sim$ $60{\mu}g$/egg). High mortality rates and teratogenic signs such as abnormal wry beak and abnormal eyeballs were seen in high doses ($80{\mu}g$/egg $\sim$ $500{\mu}g$/egg). In conclusion, it is suggested that benzophenone induces malformation of chick embryos and seriously inhibits development.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.333-336
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• 2005

Environmental endocrine disruptors are very toxic to the animals including humans. They are hormone-like acting chemicals which can be found in our normal daily life. We have examined the toxic effect of bisphenol A and if lactic acid bacteria could suppress this toxic effect. Thirty rats were divided into three groups (control, bisphenol A treated, bisphenol A and lactic acid bacteria treated). Treatments were carried out at an interval of 12 hours for each group. Control group showed normal and clear morphology of tissues. Cells were fine in their shape and color, and density was high enough for the normal function. However, bisphenol A treated group was abnormally destructed in cell morphology. In the testis, sperms were totally destructed. When treated with lactic acid bacteria together, the toxic effect of bisphenol A was clearly decreased. This study indicated that bisphenol A was toxic in any concentration especially for the liver and testis, however, lactic acid bacteria could suppress the toxic effects of bisphenol A.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.187-195
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• 2014

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are ubiquitous in the air, are present as volatile and particulate pollutants that result from incomplete combustion. Most PAHs have toxic, mutagenic, and/or carcinogenic properties. Among PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) are suspected endocrine disruptors. The testis is an important target for PAHs, yet effects on steroidogenesis in Leydig cells are yet to be ascertained. Particularly, disruption of testosterone production by these chemicals can result in serious defects in male reproduction. Exposure to B[a]P reduced serum and intratesticular fluid testosterone levels in rats. Of note, the testosterone level reductions were accompanied by decreased steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isomerase ($3{\beta}$-HSD) expression in Leydig cells. B[a]P exposure can decrease epididymal sperm quality, possibly by disturbing the testosterone level. StAR may be a key steroidogenic protein that is targeted by B[a]P or other PAHs.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.403-406
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• 2004

Environmental endocrine disruptors (EDs) are toxic, hormone-like chemicals which can be found in our normal daily life. We have examined if EDs can inhibit the monocellular microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria or if the growth of lactic acid bacteria could be resistant to the endocrine disruptors. We have used Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei (KCTC No. 3165) as an experimental strain and bisphenol A, benzophenone and phenylphenol for the comparison purpose. Experiments included the evaluation of turbidity, absorbance and actual cell counts. We found that No.3165 was somewhat resistant to EDs naturally, however, high concentration of EDs could inhibit the growth of No. 3165 completely. Different EDs showed different spectrum of inhibit. This study should contribute to the development of more resistant lactic acid bacteria to EDs and to the development of functional fermented beverage.