REDR2014 Reproduction in Domestic Ruminants VIII Challenges in Optimization of Reproductive Performance (3 abstracts)
Endocrine disruptors and ovine reproductive development
Richard G. Lea 1,2 , Andrew S. Byers 1,2 , Michelle Bellingham 3 , Corinne Cotinot 4 , Neil Evans 3 , Beatrice Mandon-Pepin 2 , Kevin D. Sinclair 1 & Paul A. Fowler 5
1Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD; 2School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, NG25 0QF; 3Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow G61 1QH; 4INRA, UMR 1198, Biologie du Developpement et Reproduction F-78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France; 5Division of Applied Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
Summary. Declining fertility and perturbations in reproductive development in a variety of species have been linked to exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are ubiquitous in the environment. Ruminants are largely exposed to such chemicals in sewage sludge fertiliser widely used in animal production systems. This has been investigated experimentally through the deliberate exposure of pregnant ewes to sewage sludge fertilised pastures or control pastures treated with inorganic fertiliser containing no detectable EDCs. Perturbations in the developing fetal hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis have been observed in both male and female fetuses. A sub-population of rams exposed both pre- and post-natally exhibited adversely altered testis development. Periods of developmental sensitivity to EDCs have also been identified. An in vitro culture system for ovine fetal ovaries has shown that mixtures have a greater effect than individual chemicals. The dog provides a sentinel model of human dietary exposure to chemicals in ruminant-derived food products. Evidence of altered fertility and testicular cancer, along with EDC detection in dog testes and pet foods, support this concept. Established rodent models of EDC exposure provide a means to investigate mechanisms and transgenerational effects. Overall, monitoring and in vitro studies carried out in sentinel species and on human tissues, combined with in vivo mechanistic studies carried out in ruminants and rodents, provides a clear picture of the global impact of EDCs on reproductive development. In particular, the ovine model of sewage sludge exposure provides the only currently available "real life" model of exposure to a cocktail of EDCs.
© 2014 Society for Reproduction and Fertility
Volume 8
Article tools
My recent searches
My recently viewed abstracts
Authors
Bioscientifica Proceedings
ISSN 2515-0227 (online)
© Bioscientifica 2024 |
Privacy policy |
Cookie settings
BiosciAbstracts
Bioscientifica Abstracts is the gateway to a series of products that provide a permanent, citable record of abstracts for biomedical and life science conferences.
Find out more