Perono Genevieve A, Petrik James J, Thomas Philippe J, Holloway Alison C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON., Canada.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON., Canada.
Curr Res Toxicol. 2022 Apr 9;3:100070. doi: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100070. eCollection 2022.
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) are a broad class of contaminants ubiquitously present in the environment due to natural and anthropogenic activities. With increasing industrialization and reliance on petroleum worldwide, PACs are increasingly being detected in different environmental compartments. Previous studies have shown that PACs possess endocrine disruptive properties as these compounds often interfere with hormone signaling and function. In females, the ovary is largely responsible for regulating reproductive and endocrine function and thus, serves as a primary target for PAC-mediated toxicity. Perturbations in the signaling pathways that mediate ovarian folliculogenesis, steroidogenesis and angiogenesis can lead to adverse reproductive outcomes including polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency, and infertility. To date, the impact of PACs on ovarian function has focused predominantly on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo(a)pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. However, investigation into the impact of substituted PACs including halogenated, heterocyclic, and alkylated PACs on mammalian reproduction has been largely overlooked despite the fact that these compounds are found in higher abundance in free-ranging wildlife. This review aims to discuss current literature on the effects of PACs on the ovary in mammals, with a particular focus on folliculogenesis, steroidogenesis and angiogenesis, which are key processes necessary for proper ovarian functions.
多环芳烃化合物（PACs）是一类广泛存在于环境中的污染物，源于自然和人为活动。随着全球工业化进程的加快以及对石油依赖程度的增加，不同环境介质中越来越多地检测到PACs。以往研究表明，PACs具有内分泌干扰特性，因为这些化合物常常干扰激素信号传导和功能。在雌性动物中，卵巢在很大程度上负责调节生殖和内分泌功能，因此是PAC介导毒性作用的主要靶点。介导卵巢卵泡发生、类固醇生成和血管生成的信号通路受到干扰会导致不良生殖结局，包括多囊卵巢综合征、卵巢早衰和不孕。迄今为止，PACs对卵巢功能的影响主要集中在多环芳烃，如苯并[a]芘、3-甲基胆蒽和7,12-二甲基苯并[a]蒽。然而，尽管在自由放养的野生动物中发现这些取代的PACs（包括卤代、杂环和烷基化PACs）的丰度更高，但对其对哺乳动物生殖影响的研究却在很大程度上被忽视了。本综述旨在讨论目前关于PACs对哺乳动物卵巢影响的文献，特别关注卵泡发生、类固醇生成和血管生成，这些是卵巢正常功能所必需的关键过程。
