Table 3.
Effects of some specific EDCs on the female reproductive system
| EDC | Exposed animal and effects | Possible translation to the clinical condition | Potential mechanisms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinclozolin | Fetal rat: multisystem disorders including tumors (12) | Epigenetic: altered DNA methylation in germ cell line (12); reduced ERα expression in uterus (44) | |
| DES | Fetal mouse: transmitted susceptibility to malignancies (39) | Vaginal adenocarcinoma in daughters of women treated with DES during pregnancy (19) | |
| DDT/DDE | Immature female rat: sexual precocity (27) | Precocious and early puberty (17) | Neuroendocrine effect through estrogen receptors, kainate receptors, and AhRs (27) |
| Reduced fertility in daughters of exposed women (472) | |||
| <15 yr: increased breast cancer risk | |||
| BPA | Inhibited mammary duct development and increased branching (145) | Miscarriages | Inhibition of apoptotic activity in breast (145);0>Increased number of progesterone receptor-positive epithelial cells;0>Reduced sulfotransferase inactivation of estradiol (45,46);0>Nongenomic activation of ERK1/2 (476) |
| Increased mammary gland density, increased number of terminal ends (146) | |||
| Reduced weight of vagina (473) | |||
| Endometrial stimulation (473) | |||
| Early puberty (474,475) | |||
| PCBs | Fetal and early postnatal rat: neuroendocrine effects in two generations, and behavioral changes (296,477) | Actions on estrogen receptors, neurotransmitter receptors | |
| Dioxins | Fetal rat: altered breast development and increased susceptibility for mammary cancer (478) | Inhibition of cyclooxygenase2 via AhR (479) | |
| Early pubertal rat: blocked ovulation | |||
| Phthalates | Premature thelarche (25) |