Palanza Paola, Paterlini Silvia, Brambilla M Maddalena, Ramundo Greta, Caviola Giada, Gioiosa Laura, Parmigiani Stefano, Vom Saal Frederick S, Ponzi Davide
Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Feb;121:29-46. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.015. Epub 2020 Nov 25.
Sex is a fundamental biological characteristic that influences many aspects of an organism's phenotype, including neurobiological functions and behavior as a result of species-specific evolutionary pressures. Sex differences have strong implications for vulnerability to disease and susceptibility to environmental perturbations. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to interfere with sex hormones functioning and influence development in a sex specific manner. Here we present an updated descriptive review of findings from animal models and human studies regarding the current evidence for altered sex-differences in behavioral development in response to early exposure to EDCs, with a focus on bisphenol A and phthalates. Overall, we show that animal and human studies have a good degree of consistency and that there is strong evidence demonstrating that EDCs exposure during critical periods of development affect sex differences in emotional and cognitive behaviors. Results are more heterogeneous when social, sexual and parental behaviors are considered. In order to pinpoint sex differences in environmentally-driven disease vulnerabilities, researchers need to consider sex-biased developmental effects of EDCs.
性别是一种基本的生物学特征，由于特定物种的进化压力，它会影响生物体表型的许多方面，包括神经生物学功能和行为。性别差异对疾病易感性和环境干扰的易感性有重要影响。内分泌干扰化学物质（EDCs）有可能干扰性激素的功能，并以性别特异性方式影响发育。在此，我们对动物模型和人体研究的结果进行了最新的描述性综述，内容涉及早期接触EDCs后行为发育中性别差异改变的当前证据，重点是双酚A和邻苯二甲酸盐。总体而言，我们表明动物和人体研究具有较高的一致性，并且有强有力的证据表明，在发育关键期接触EDCs会影响情绪和认知行为中的性别差异。当考虑社会、性和父母行为时，结果的异质性更大。为了确定环境驱动的疾病易感性中的性别差异，研究人员需要考虑EDCs的性别偏向发育效应。
