Epigenetic Transgenerational Actions of Endocrine Disruptors and Male Fertility

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2005 Jun 4

PMID 15933200

Citations 870

Authors

Matthew D Anway

Andrea S Cupp

Mehmet Uzumcu

Michael K Skinner

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Transgenerational effects of environmental toxins require either a chromosomal or epigenetic alteration in the germ line. Transient exposure of a gestating female rat during the period of gonadal sex determination to the endocrine disruptors vinclozolin (an antiandrogenic compound) or methoxychlor (an estrogenic compound) induced an adult phenotype in the F1 generation of decreased spermatogenic capacity (cell number and viability) and increased incidence of male infertility. These effects were transferred through the male germ line to nearly all males of all subsequent generations examined (that is, F1 to F4). The effects on reproduction correlate with altered DNA methylation patterns in the germ line. The ability of an environmental factor (for example, endocrine disruptor) to reprogram the germ line and to promote a transgenerational disease state has significant implications for evolutionary biology and disease etiology.

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