Rockett John C, Kim Sung J
Reproductive Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
Cancer Biomark. 2005;1(1):93-108. doi: 10.3233/cbm-2005-1110.
A biomarker can be broadly defined as any biological index capable of being measured, which is associated with or indicative of a defined biological endpoint such as a developmental or disease stage. Identification and verification of anatomical, endocrine, cellular and molecular biomarkers is crucial for successful clinical diagnosis and treatment of toxicity and disease, as well as basic toxicological, epidemiological and other research. Various biomarkers of reproductive development and health have been identified, including those associated with pubertal development, adult reproductive health and pregnancy outcome. Herein we discuss those in situ biomarkers which have been more closely associated with toxicant action on the reproductive system. Biomarkers of toxicant exposure and susceptibility are addressed, but the majority of the review focuses on those biomarkers which may prove useful for determining current pathophysiological status or predicting future adverse outcomes. In males these are primarily associated with altered spermatogenesis and sperm parameters, and in females with altered endocrine function. We conclude that although few robust in situ biomarkers are currently available which are specific for toxicant exposure, susceptibility or effect in reproductive systems, there is expectation that post-genomic technologies offer a new paradigm for identifying and verifying such biomarkers as may exist.
生物标志物可广义定义为任何能够被测量的生物学指标，它与特定的生物学终点相关或可指示该终点，如发育阶段或疾病阶段。解剖学、内分泌学、细胞和分子生物标志物的识别与验证对于成功临床诊断和治疗毒性及疾病，以及基础毒理学、流行病学和其他研究而言至关重要。已识别出各种生殖发育和健康的生物标志物，包括那些与青春期发育、成年生殖健康和妊娠结局相关的标志物。在此我们讨论那些与毒物对生殖系统的作用联系更为紧密的原位生物标志物。毒物暴露和易感性的生物标志物也在讨论范围内，但本综述的大部分内容聚焦于那些可能有助于确定当前病理生理状态或预测未来不良结局的生物标志物。在男性中，这些主要与精子发生改变和精子参数变化相关，而在女性中则与内分泌功能改变相关。我们得出结论，尽管目前几乎没有针对毒物在生殖系统中的暴露、易感性或效应的强健原位生物标志物，但人们期望后基因组技术能为识别和验证可能存在的此类生物标志物提供新的范例。
