Manfo Faustin P T, Nantia Edouard A, Mathur Premendu P
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63 Buea, Cameroon.
Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2014;7(2):119-35. doi: 10.2174/1874467208666150126155420.
Exposure of humans and wildlife to pollutants released in the environment is a centre of attention nowadays. Many of these chemicals (generally referred to as environmental pollutants) have been shown to interfere with normal hormonal signalling and biological functions, leading to reproductive disorders or infertility, which has been a matter of concern within the recent decades. The present paper reviews adverse effects of these toxicants on mammalian testes, with emphasis on alteration of steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and histopathological effects. From the publications reviewed, it appears that environmental toxicants, especially heavy metals and organic chemicals of synthetic and microbiological origins, disrupt hormone production and action in the mammalian testes. Endocrine disruption leads to disorders of testicular function and thereby compromises the normal phenotypic development of male sexual characteristics, initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis. The toxicants also induce impairment of testicular cells function, testicular histology, and sperm cells function directly. The release of the toxicants in the environment is still ongoing, despite alarming quantities that already exist in the atmosphere. If appropriate measures are not taken, their impact on the male reproductive function and especially on testicular function will be more serious.
人类和野生动物接触环境中释放的污染物是当今备受关注的焦点。这些化学物质（通常称为环境污染物）中的许多已被证明会干扰正常的激素信号传导和生物学功能，导致生殖障碍或不育，这在近几十年来一直是人们关注的问题。本文综述了这些有毒物质对哺乳动物睾丸的不良影响，重点关注类固醇生成、精子发生的改变以及组织病理学效应。从所综述的文献来看，环境有毒物质，尤其是重金属以及合成和微生物来源的有机化学物质，会破坏哺乳动物睾丸中的激素产生和作用。内分泌干扰会导致睾丸功能紊乱，从而损害男性性征的正常表型发育、精子发生的启动和维持。这些有毒物质还会直接导致睾丸细胞功能、睾丸组织学和精子细胞功能受损。尽管大气中已经存在数量惊人的有毒物质，但它们仍在持续释放到环境中。如果不采取适当措施，它们对男性生殖功能尤其是睾丸功能的影响将更加严重。
