• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제28권5호
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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.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.237-243
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• 2010

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been shown to interfere with physiological systems, i.e., adversely affecting hormone balance (endocrine system), or disrupting normal function, in the female and male reproductive organs. Although endocrine disruption is a global concern for human health, its impact and significance and the screening strategy for detecting these synthetic or man-made chemicals are not clearly understood in female and male reproductive functions. Thus, in this review, we summarize the interference of environmental EDCs on reproductive development and function, and toxicological mechanism(s) of EDCs in in vitro and in vivo models of male and female reproductive system. In addition, this review highlights the effect of exposure to multiple EDCs on reproductive functions, and brings attention to their toxicological mechanism(s) through estrogen receptors.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식품위생안전성학회 2001년도 The Asia-Pacific Conference on Reproductive Biology and Environmental Sciences
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• pp.54-60
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• 2001

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제8권2호
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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.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.53-58
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• 2006

Normally, environmental toxicants are classified as endocrine disruptors if they interfere with regulation of cellular function by endogeneous steroids through inhibition of receptor binding and/or transcriptional activation. So, many studies have been performed about agonist/antagonist of hormone receptor to study mechanisms of endocrine disruptors. If toxicants affect steroid biosynthesis and/or degradation and alter hormone homeostasis, these also are classified as endocrine disruptors. But there are not many studies of the mechanisms of endocrine disruptors on the basis of alteration of steroid biosynthesis and/or degradation. Isolation and culture of Leydig cells from testis is one of methods for the steroidogenesis screening assays to evaluate a substance for altering steroidogenesis. Leydig cells were harvested using the method described by Klinefelter with modifications. Leydig cells were purified by perfusion of testis and incubation ($34^{\circ}C$, 80cycles/minute, 20 minutes) with collagenase (0.25 mg/kg), centrifugal elutriation, percoll gradient centrifugation and BSA multidensity gradient centrifugation. To confirm if this method is one of appropriate tools to evaluate a substance for altering steroidogenesis, ketoconazole, positive control was administered to purified Leydig cells. Ketoconazole ($10^{-8}M$ and above) significantly reduced testosterone production in purified Leydig cells. From above results, we suggest that this method for steroidogenesis screening assay appears to be a appropriate tool to detect suspected compounds for altering steroidogenesis.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.207-210
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• 2007

The study was designed to determine the estrogenic effect of some penicillins on endocrine function in adult Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Vitellogenin (Vtg) produced in male fish has been used for a biomarker to study endocrine disrupters. $17\beta-estradiol\;(E_2)$ was used a positive control that was induced Vtg in male fish. Result of total protein qantification and ELISA for female and male fish were exposed to $17\beta-estradiol$ 10ng/ml for $3\sim5$ days. As a result, male fish exposed to amoxicillin respectively appeared 0.75, 0.23, 8.21 and $9.36\%_{\circ}$ of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 ppm respectively, that value was elevated compared with control male fish. Male fish exposed to ampicillin respectively appeared 1.85, 4.68, 0.85 and $39.59\%_{\circ}$ of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 ppm respectively, that value was elevated compared with control male fish. This study is one of the first reports suggesting potential endocrine disruption of some penicillins in aquatic ecosystem. These results suggest that vitellogenin and estrogen receptor induction patterns alter in male medaka treated with selected estrogenic compounds, and that these results may be useful molecular biomarkers for screening estrogenic EDCs (endocrine-disrupting chemicals) in the shortest possible time.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.177-182
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• 2014

This study was to determine the correlation between endothelial function and neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) network through observing the changes of NEI network under the different endothelial dysfunction models. Three endothelial dysfunction models were established in male Wistar rats after exposure to homocysteine (Hcy), high fat diet (HFD) and Hcy+HFD. The results showed that there was endothelial dysfunction in all three models with varying degrees. However, the expression of NEI network was totally different. Interestingly, treatment with simvastatin was able to improve vascular endothelial function and restored the imbalance of the NEI network, observed in the Hcy+HFD group. The results indicated that NEI network may have a strong association with endothelial function, and this relationship can be used to distinguish different risk factors and evaluate drug effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

The safety of human exposure to an ever-increasing number and diversity of electromagnetic field (EMF) sources both at work and at home has become a public health issue. To date, many in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that EMF exposure can alter cellular homeostasis, endocrine function, reproductive function, and fetal development in animal systems. Reproductive parameters reported to be altered by EMF exposure include male germ cell death, the estrous cycle, reproductive endocrine hormones, reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, early embryonic development, and pregnancy success. At the cellular level, an increase in free radicals and $[Ca^{2+}]i$ may mediate the effect of EMFs and lead to cell growth inhibition, protein misfolding, and DNA breaks. The effect of EMF exposure on reproductive function differs according to frequency and wave, strength (energy), and duration of exposure. In the present review, the effects of EMFs on reproductive function are summarized according to the types of EMF, wave type, strength, and duration of exposure at cellular and organism levels.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.99-106
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• 2019

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that is capable of interfering with the normal function of the endocrine system in the body. Exposure to this chemical from BPA-containing materials and the environment is associated with deleterious health effects, including male reproductive abnormalities. A search of the literature demonstrated that BPA, as a toxicant, directly affects the cellular oxidative stress response machinery. Because of its hormone-like properties, it can also bind with specific receptors in target cells. Therefore, the tissue-specific effects of BPA mostly depend on its endocrine-disrupting capabilities and the expression of those particular receptors in target cells. Although studies have shown the possible mechanisms of BPA action in various cell types, a clear consensus has yet to be established. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of BPA action in spermatozoa by compiling existing information in the literature.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.146-154
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• 1996

스트레스와 면역기능 간의 관계는 중추신경계, 신경내분비계 및 면역계 간의 의사소통 즉 상호작용에 의해 이루어지고 있다. 중추신경계와 면역계가 상호작용하는 주요 경로는 임파조직의 신경계 wiring system과 신경내분비계다. 면역계는 neuropeptide를 생성하고 이것은 면역반응을 조절한다. 정신사회적 인자와 면역기능 간의 중개자로는 뇌하수체에서 방출되는 peptide, hormone 및 자율신경계 물질이 있다. 시상하부는 내분비계, 신경계 및 면역계를 통합하는 역활을 한다. 특히 시상하부의 paraventricular nucleus가 이 일에 중추적인 역할을 담당한다. 한편 내분비계는 면역계에 의해서 휘이드백을 받는다. 뇌하수체가 면역계를 조절하는 주요 경로로는 시상하부-뇌하수체-부신-흉선축, 시상하부-뇌하수체-성선-흉선축, 송과선-시상하부-뇌하수체축 등이 시사되고 있다. 스트레스와 면역계 간에는 양 방향의 경로가 있는 것으로 가정된다. 즉 스트레스가 면역계에 영향을 미칠 뿐만 아니라 면역계가 정신사회적 기능에 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 따라서 스트레스와 면역기능 간의 관계를 규명하기 위해서는 면역계, 내분비계, 자율신경계 및 뇌활동을 동시에 측정, 비교하여 이들을 통합할 필요가 있다.