• 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.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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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.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.197-204
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• 2001

Endocrine disruption in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) living in the branch of Han River were examined. Vitellogenin level in plasma was measured using ELISA system and aromatase mRNA level in brain was observed using RT-PCR technique. In all female fish, vitellogenin levels were in the range of 20∼40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and aromatase mRNA expression could be detected on the agarose gel after RT-PCR. However, in case of males, vitellogenin level was elevated in only one fish, while vitellogenin was hardly detected in others. Aromatase was expressed in all males although the levels were relatively lower than the level in female fish. Testis-ova and any other histological changes of reproductive organ were not shown in both sexes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.513-516
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• 2007

This investigation was intended to find out the estrogenic effect of chlortetracycline (CTC) on vitellogenin induction in adult male Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Vitellogenin (Vtg) produced in male fish has been used to as one of a biomarker of endocrine disrupters. The positive control was $17{\beta}-estradiol$ (E2) that induced Vtg in male fish. As a result, male and female fish were exposed to 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ppm of CTC. Western blot results showed approximately 205 kDa, that is similar to myosin at high molecular weight range Sigma maker. Vtg band was showed fainted to 10 and 100ppm for chlortetracycline. Vtg concentration of CTC was qunatified by total protein quantification and ELISA. Exposure of the male fish to CTC of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ppm produced Vtg concentrations of 0.24, 0.12, 7.61 and 40.02%o, respectively, that value was elevated than control male fish (0.14%o). CTC exerted as a Vtg inducer in male fish from 10 ppm, but it was a reducer in female fish from 0.1 ppm level. The results say that vitellogenin induction patterns alter in male medaka treated with CTC, and that CTC may caused endocrine disruption in fish.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.19-23
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• 1999

Bisphenol-A and related conpounds recently have been reported to be estrogenic since it has been demonstrared in laboratory stuides that they mimic the effects of estrogen. Bisphenol-A refered to as "environmental estrogen" are suspected of causing health effect in living body through disruption of endocdrine system. In this review, the occurrence, environmental fate, and biological effects of bisphenol-A are presented. To provide understanding to the potential for endocrine disruption due to environmental estrogen, the physiology of bisphenol-A mammalian and fish is also reviewed. For empty can, the migrationof bisphenol-A form food conducted epoxy coating was effected by the test conditions and it increased in order to water and 4% acetic acid. Extracts from foods packed in lacquer coated can also showed estrogenic activity. Bisphenol-A was found as a contaminant not only in the liquid food cans, but also in water autoclave in can. The used of coating certain food-packaging material may require closer scrutiny to determine when bisphenol-A contribute to advert exposure of consumers to estrogenic xenobiotics. Human breast cancer MCF cell added bisphenol-A cultivated to study the ability of bisphenol-A to elicit of bisphenol-A estrogenic bioresponse in this system. Bisphenol-A, similar to estradiol, induced PR activation in transiently transfected anterior and posterior pituitary cells.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.199.2-200
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• 2000

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.313-317
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• 2001

The Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan has set up six research groups concerning the endocrine disrupting chemicals. One of these projects was "A study on development of testing methodology for health effects due to exposure of environmental endocrine disruptors". In this paper, three topics are described. In OECD collaboration for pre-validation of uterotrophic assay, the most sensitive response to ethnyl estradiol was noted in the ovarectomized rats treated subcutaneously for 7 days. Secondly, it was suggested that changes of the serum $\alpha_{2u}$-globulin level may be a sensitive parameter for detecting the estrogenic activities of chemicals. Finally, development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of preoptic area in the brain oj male rats was inhibited by the treatment with estrogenic chemicals, and their masculine behaviors and reproductive abilities were impaired after sexual maturation. In conclusion, these parameters are considered to be sensitive endpoints for testing estrogenic chemicals.chemicals.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.106-106
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• 2001

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2001

To evaluate the arsenic effect of fish endocrine disruption, crucian carp (Carassius auratus) were treated with 0.5 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L of As$_2$O$_3$ for 14 days and gonadal development was examined by histological analysis. In ovaries from female crucial carps exposed to 3.0 mg/L, immature follicles and atretic follicles were appeared while various normal developmental stages of oocytes were shown in control group. Body weight and Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) of treated carp were also decreased compared to control group. However, no other significant histological changes in liver or kidney were shown in this exposure scheme. This means that reproductive organs are more sensitive than other organs and arsenic may exert endocrine disrupting effect through inhibiting the development of reproductive organ in fish.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.169-188
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• 2016

Objectives: Although information on the toxicity of phthalate diesters is readily available, little is known about phthalate alternatives. The present article provides a summary of available information on the toxicity of phthalate diesters and their alternatives, with a special focus on estrogenicity and androgenicity. Methods: We collected a battery of in vitro and in vivo assay data from the literature to assess the estrogenicity/anti-estrogenicity and androgenicity/anti-androgenicity of 15 phthalate diesters and 21 phthalate alternatives. Results: A number of in vitro studies show that certain phthalate diesters can bind to estrogen receptors and have a weak estrogenic potential. However, this potential was not seen in in vivo studies. Phthalate diesters produced anti-androgenic effects in animals by reducing testosterone production. Among them, di-(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the most potent. While almost all phthalate alternatives have a lower toxic potential than does DEHP, evidence of reproductive toxicity and estrogenic potential were found in several substances. Conclusion: Significant data gaps exist for phthalate alternatives regarding reproductive endocrine disruption, requiring further investigation.