• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.147-162
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this review was to summarize the primary role of three representative endocrine axes in aquatic vertebrates and discuss the effects on endocrine systems and their interactions in teleost fish after exposure to environmental contaminants. Methods: We summarized individual traits and mechanisms for hormonal and transcriptional interactions between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG), hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT), and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes in fish. We also provided a brief discussion on the effects of nonylphenol-induced toxicity on endocrine systems and their interactions in fish as a demonstration of holistic explanation. Results: Currently-available data showed that thyroid dysfunction is associated with reproductive toxicity due to changes in steroidogenic gene expressions and sex hormone levels as well as gonad glands in fish. As an example, we demonstrated that exposure to nonylphenol could induce estrogenicity in male fish by decreasing thyroid hormones, which contributes to increased aromatase expression. Although the mechanisms are complicated and involved in multiple ways, a number of studies have shown that sex steroids influence the HPT axis or the HPA axis in fish, indicating bi-directional crosstalk. Critically missing is information on the primary target or toxicity mechanisms of environmental contaminants among the three endocrine axes, so further studies are needed to explore those possibilities. Conclusions: This review highlights the interactions between the HPG, HPT, and HPA axes in fish in order to better understand how these endocrine systems could interact with each other in situations of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.95-111
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• 2013

Worldwide there is concern about the continuing release of a broad range of environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and other halogenated organochlorines persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the environment. They are condemned for health adverse effects such as cancer, reproductive defects, neurobehavioral abnormalities, endocrine and immunological toxicity. These effects can be elicited via a number of mechanisms among others include disruption of endocrine system, oxidation stress and epigenetic. However, most of the mechanisms are not clear, thus several number of studies are ongoing trying to elucidate them in order to protect the public by reducing these adverse effects. In this review, we briefly limited review the process, the impacts, and the potential mechanisms of dioxin/dioxin like compound, particularly, their possible roles in adverse developmental and reproductive processes, diseases, and gene expression and associated molecular pathways in cells.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2021

Objectives: Phthalates, which are widely used as plasticizers, have been recognized as endocrine disruptors. In the present study, we provided information on the regulation of these chemicals and summarized the information available on their detection and toxicity in children's products and those of their alternatives. Methods: The regulatory frameworks related to phthalates in children's products in Korea, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU) were compared. Data on the detection concentration of 16 phthalates and seven phthalate alternatives that could be used in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic products for children as well as on their toxicity classification and endocrine disruption toxicity were collected from the literature. Results: Korea adopted US and EU chemical standards for six phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DINP, DIDP, and DNOP), but not others (e.g., DIBP, DPP, DHP, and DCHP). Among the ten phthalates and seven substitutes for which regulatory standards were not determined, DIBP, DHP, DEHA, DIBA, DINA, and DEHT were detected in children's products made from PVC plastic. DIBP and DHP, which have a reproductive toxicity classification of 1B, were frequently detected in PVC toys. The reproductive toxicity, estrogenicity, and anti-androgenic activity of the unregulated phthalates and their alternatives have been reported in diverse in vitro and in vivo assays. Conclusion: The use of unregulated phthalates and their substitutes in children's products is increasing. Further monitoring and toxicological information on phthalate alternatives is required to develop proper management plans.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2006

It is well publicized that the existence of various endocrine disrupting chemicals threatens normal sexual development of many sedentary marine fishes in the coastal areas. However, a suitable marine fish species for efficient monitoring of this threatening has yet to be identified. One of the difficulties in estimating the effect of endocrine disruption in marine fish is the absence of clear distinction between testicular and ovarian structures at the early stages of sex differentiation. In search of a potential test species, we have investigated the microscopic structures of sexually undifferentiated and differentiated gonads and the susceptibility of gonadal differentiation to exogenous sex steroids during the sex differentiation period in a sedentary marine rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. Male gonads in this species contained dark pigmentation that made them distinct from female gonads. Treatment either with $estradiol-17\;{\beta}(E_2)$ or $17\;{\alpha}-methyltestosterone$ (MT) significantly altered the sex ratios with the complete sex changes or the occurrence of ovotestis that was easily identified by the mixed structure of dimorphic gonads (coexistence of ovarian cavity/primary oocytes and dark pigmentation/seminiferous tubules). Results in this study suggest that S. schlegeli can be developed as a monitoring/test fish species for endocrine disruption in marine fish in the coastal areas.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.55-63
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• 1999

Endocrine disrupting chemicals probably cause the cytological or/and morphological changes of germinal cells in gonad. Accordingly, this study was aimed to make sure that the effect of hormone-mimicking chemicals on gonad morphology such as decrease of germinal cells, inhibition of cellular maturation and change in the ratio of germinal cells in the different developmental phase can be observed by histopathological procedures and can be a useful bio-indicator for the evaluation of endocrine disruption by environmental chemicals. In this experiment, female Japanese medaka were exposured to quercetin, a phytoestrogen, at the concentration of 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L. quercetin showed the significant decrease in the number and rate of vitellogenic follicular oocytes in the treated group for 4 and 6 weeks. The weak development of yolk could be also observed. We could conclude that quercetin has anti-estrogenic or androgen-like potency by exerting the inhibition effect on oogenesis in fish female- gonad. From the result of this study, the applied methods and techniques can be evaluated to be a useful biomonitoring means for water pollution, expecting a good result of the subsequent study on apoptosis.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2015

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) including endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care product chemicals (PPCPs) have recently received more attention because of their occurrence in water bodies and harmful impacts on human health and aquatic organisms. Triclosan is widely used as a synthetic broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent due to its antimicrobial efficacy. However, triclosan detected in aquatic environment has been recently considered as one of CECs, because of the potential for endocrine disruption, the formation of toxic by-products and the development of cross-resistance to antibiotics in aquatic environment. This comprehensive review focuses on the regulations, toxicology, fate and transport, occurrence and removal efficiency of triclosan. Overall, this review aims to provide better understanding of triclosan and insight into application of biological treatment process as an efficient method for triclosan removal.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.269-274
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• 2005

The 2D/E gel analysis for polypeptide expression reflecting I-18 C gene (early-ecdysterone inducible gene) has conducted the emerged C. riparius adults from larval phase exposure to tebufenozide acting as an ecdysteroidal molting hormone. Control group, the amount of ORE II of the I-18 C gene was larger than that of ORE I of this gene. After treatments, ORE I of the I-18 C gene was overexpressed as the polypeptide, whereas ORF II of this gene was expressed as the polypeptide and was clearly reduced expression. Accordingly, we consider that tebufenozide exhibited endocrine disruptions related processing of ecdysteroid receptor protein reflecting ORF II of I-18 C gene. Also, earlier emergence day was related overexpressed polypeptide reflecting ORE I of I-18 C gene. In this study result, tebufenozide induced changing of physiological condition, and then polypeptide expression reflecting early-ecdysterone inducible I-18 C gene was different between control group and exposure group.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.189.1-189.1
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• 2003

Transcript profiling is a particularly valuable tool in the field of steroid receptor biology, as these receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors and therefore exert their initial effects through altering gene expression in responsive cells. Also, an increased awareness of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their potential to affect wildlife and humans has produced a demand for practical screening methods to identify endocrine activity. (omitted)

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2002

A benchmark dose (BMD) approach has been evaluated us a replacement for the traditional NOAEL methodology currently being wed to assess the noncancer effects of toxicants. The endocrine disrupt-ing effect of endosulfan which showed decrement of sperm count and testicular testosterone level in animals, was currently reported. The amount of endosulfan used as pesticide in the country has been continuously increased. The aim of this study was to suggest the permissible intake level (PIL), corresponding to Accept-able Daily Intake (ADI), based on endocrine disrupting effect wing BMD. Various animal data were collected by consideration of critical effect showing endocrine disruption and an animal data for reproductive toxicity was selected. The Power model from BMD software for induction of $BMD_10$ having meaning which is the dose at the 95% lower confidence limit on a 10% response was used due to that the form of selected dose-response animal data was continuous data. The $BMD_10$ was estimated to be 0.393 mg/kg/day based on reproductive toxicity showing decrement of sperm count. The permissible intake level (PIL) was calculated by dividing the $BMD_10$ by the uncertainty factors of 100 with consideration of from animal to human and human variability. The PIL as 0.004 mg/kg/day was compared with traditional ADI as 0.006 mg/kg/day based on the incidence of marked progressive glomerulonephrosis and blood vessel aneurysm in males.