Field Of Reproductive Toxicology Research Articles

DESTAF: A database of text-mined associations for reproductive toxins potentially affecting human fertility

The Dragon Exploration System for Toxicants and Fertility (DESTAF) is a publicly available resource which enables researchers to efficiently explore both known and potentially novel information and associations in the field of reproductive toxicology. To create DESTAF we used data from the literature (including over 10500 PubMed abstracts), several publicly available biomedical repositories, and specialized, curated dictionaries. DESTAF has an interface designed to facilitate rapid assessment of the key associations between relevant concepts, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of information based on different gene/protein-, enzyme/metabolite-, toxin/chemical-, disease- or anatomically centric perspectives. As a special feature, DESTAF allows for the creation and initial testing of potentially new association hypotheses that suggest links between biological entities identified through the database.DESTAF, along with a PDF manual, can be found at http://cbrc.kaust.edu.sa/destaf. It is free to academic and non-commercial users and will be updated quarterly.

Methamphetamine induces abnormal sperm morphology, low sperm concentration and apoptosis in the testis of male rats

Methamphetamine has been reported to be an important drug in the field of reproductive toxicology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methamphetamine administrations on sperm morphology, sperm concentration and apoptotic activity inside seminiferous tubule in male rats. Rats were administered a dose of 8 mg kg(-1) , intraperitoneally (IP), for acute group and a dose of 4 mg kg(-1) , IP, once daily for 14 days for sub-acute group. Percentage of normal sperm morphology was decreased in acute group when compared with control. Total numbers of sperm count were significantly decreased in acute and sub-acute groups. Apoptotic activities were most abundant in the seminiferous tubules of acute treated animals with a highly significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells per tubule. Those effects of methamphetamine seem to be dose-dependent. The results suggest that methamphetamine not only works as drug of abuse in central nervous system, but also in gametogenesis of males.

The ReProTect Feasibility Study, a novel comprehensive in vitro approach to detect reproductive toxicants

ReProTect is a project within the 6th European Framework Program which has developed alternative methods aimed to reduce or replace animal experimentation in the field of reproductive toxicology. In its final year, a ring trial, named the “Feasibility Study”, was conducted, in which 10 blinded chemicals with toxicologically well-documented profiles were analyzed by employing a test battery of 14 in vitro assays. EC 50 (half maximal effective concentration) or equivalent endpoints were determined and the test compounds were ranked relative to chemicals previously assayed in the tests of the battery. This comparative analysis together with a weight of evidence approach allowed a robust prediction of adverse effects on fertility and embryonic development of the 10 test chemicals in vivo. In summary, the vast majority of the predictions made based on the in vitro results turned out to be correct when compared to the whole animal data. The procedure used here, a nearest neighbor analysis coupled with a weight of evidence approach, may guide future activities in the field of alternative toxicity testing.

Reproductive toxicology: current and future directions

During the 20th century, there has been an increased risk from environmental by-products that may be harmful to reproductive function in humans. Therefore, as the 21st century begins, it is appropriate to evaluate future directions within the field of reproductive toxicology. This commentary identifies several approaches and developing technologies that would help research continue in a meaningful direction. Four areas for development are suggested, and selected examples of research involved in those areas are discussed: (1) Translational applications: workplace exposures thought to cause infertility in men (1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, DBCP) and menstrual disturbances in women (2-bromopropane, 2BP) are given as examples of human effects that have prompted animal studies. (2) Exposure paradigms: extrapolating dosing in animals to exposures in humans becomes complex. Two examples of surprising findings using lower doses are cited: ovotoxicity caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and disrupted sexual differentiation caused by the fungicide vinclozolin. (3) Gender differences: predicting variable risk between women and men requires investigation of the effects of reproductive toxicants in both genders. The phthalates provide a good example for this comparison. Whereas di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is a reproductive toxicant working by similar mechanisms in males and females, di- n-butyl phthalate (DBP) produces developmental effects in males and reproductive tract effects in females. (4) Endocrine disruptors: recent research has identified environmental chemicals that disrupt reproductive processes by altering the actions of endogenous steroid hormones. The endocrine disruptor issue is discussed in terms of evaluation of the actual risk these chemicals may pose in humans.

The primate as a model for hazard assessment of teratogens in humans.

Looking at the preclinical guidelines of various countries and international orga­nizations in the field of reproductive toxicology, it is very obvious that the species most used are the rat, the mouse and the rabbit. This prompts the question: why is another species needed at all?