Male infertility and environmental exposure to lead and cadmium

Humans are exposed occupationally and environmentally to metal aerosols including lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+). These toxicants accumulate in male reproductive organs. Epidemiological studies have been equivocal about effects of Pb2+ and Cd2+ on hormone concentrations, male fertility and sperm par...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human reproduction update 2000-03, Vol.6 (2), p.107-121
Main Authors: Benoff, Susan, Jacob, Asha, Hurley, Ian R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acrosome reaction
cadmium
Cadmium - analysis
Cadmium - pharmacology
Cadmium Poisoning
Environmental Exposure
Humans
Infertility, Male - chemically induced
ion channels
Ion Channels - drug effects
lead
Lead - analysis
Lead - pharmacology
Lead Poisoning
Male
male infertility
Semen - chemistry
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Summary:Humans are exposed occupationally and environmentally to metal aerosols including lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+). These toxicants accumulate in male reproductive organs. Epidemiological studies have been equivocal about effects of Pb2+ and Cd2+ on hormone concentrations, male fertility and sperm parameters. Comparison of Pb2+ and Cd2+ concentrations in fertile and infertile men are problematic. Problem areas include failure to control confounding variables, but genetic polymorphisms as in somatic diseases may modulate Pb2+ and Cd2+ damage. Multiple calcium (Ca2+) and potassium (K+) channel isoforms have been identified in human testes and spermatozoa. These Ca2+ and K+ channels are involved in early events of acrosome reactions. Ca2+ channel are susceptible to Cd2+ poisoning and K+ channels to Pb2+. These channels offer entry paths for metallic toxicants into mature spermatozoa. Ion channel polymorphisms may cause differential sensitivities to Cd2+ and Pb2+, explaining in part prospective blinded studies showing high Cd2+ in varicocele-related human infertility and high Pb2+ in unexplained infertility. In both forms of male infertility the ability to undergo an acrosome reaction decreases. Reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction assays for Ca2+ and K+ channel isoforms may identify susceptibility subgroups with lower resistance to environmental exposures.
ISSN:1355-4786
1460-2369
DOI:10.1093/humupd/6.2.107