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Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Male Sexual Development

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Pediatric and Adolescent Andrology

Part of the book series: Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine ((TASM))

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Abstract

Many andrological pathologies seen in adults, including infertility, actually arose in younger age, due to the strong susceptibility and vulnerability of male gonads to external insults, starting from gestational age and during all growth phases. Three main phases are particularly susceptible for normal testis development and function: the intrauterine phase, the neonatal phase comprising the so-called minipuberty, and puberty. However, even during infancy, when the testes are apparently “sleeping,” damaging causes with permanent effects on testicular function can occur. Among risk factors for alterations of sexual and reproductive organs and function, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have gained particular attention in the last decades, given their ability to disrupt them at different levels and at different ages, with long-term consequences and possibly also transgenerational effects. Bisphenol A, phthalates, and perfluoroalkyl substances are particularly intriguing chemicals, given the strong experimental evidence suggesting effects on hormone nuclear receptors, hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis, and direct action on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. Although epidemiological studies in humans have shown controversial and inconsistent results, the overall conclusion points toward a positive association between exposure to EDCs and alteration of male reproductive system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Alberto Ferlin

  2. Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy

    Andrea Di Nisio, Luca De Toni & Carlo Foresta

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  1. Alberto Ferlin
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  2. Andrea Di Nisio
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  3. Luca De Toni
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  4. Carlo Foresta
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Correspondence to Alberto Ferlin .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, Padova, Italy

    Carlo Foresta

  2. Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy

    Daniele Gianfrilli

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Ferlin, A., Di Nisio, A., De Toni, L., Foresta, C. (2021). Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Male Sexual Development. In: Foresta, C., Gianfrilli, D. (eds) Pediatric and Adolescent Andrology. Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80015-4_2

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