Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are exogenous agents that alter endogenous hormone signaling pathways. These chemicals target the neuroendocrine system which is composed of organs throughout the body that work alongside the central nervous system to regulate biological processes. Of primary i...

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Main Authors: Sara E. Wirbisky, Jennifer L. Freeman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-11-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/3/4/414
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author Sara E. Wirbisky
Jennifer L. Freeman
author_facet Sara E. Wirbisky
Jennifer L. Freeman
author_sort Sara E. Wirbisky
collection DOAJ
description Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are exogenous agents that alter endogenous hormone signaling pathways. These chemicals target the neuroendocrine system which is composed of organs throughout the body that work alongside the central nervous system to regulate biological processes. Of primary importance is the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis which is vital for maintaining proper reproductive function. Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) is a pre-emergent herbicide used to prevent the growth of weeds on various crops. This herbicide is reported to widely contaminate potable water supplies everywhere it is applied. As such, the European Union banned the use of atrazine in 2004. Currently the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates atrazine at 3 parts per billion (ppb; μg/L) in drinking water, while the World Health Organization recently changed their drinking water guideline to 100 ppb. Atrazine is implicated to be an EDC that alters reproductive dysfunction by targeting the HPG axis. However, questions remain as to the human health risks associated with atrazine exposure with studies reporting mixed results on the ability of atrazine to alter the HPG axis. In this review, the current findings for atrazine’s effects on the HPG axis are examined in mammalian, anuran, and fish models and in epidemiological studies.
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spelling doaj.art-b30ec998723145d69672b316c1c785a82022-12-21T18:29:21ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042015-11-013441445010.3390/toxics3040414toxics3040414Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) AxisSara E. Wirbisky0Jennifer L. Freeman1School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USASchool of Health Sciences, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAEndocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are exogenous agents that alter endogenous hormone signaling pathways. These chemicals target the neuroendocrine system which is composed of organs throughout the body that work alongside the central nervous system to regulate biological processes. Of primary importance is the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis which is vital for maintaining proper reproductive function. Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) is a pre-emergent herbicide used to prevent the growth of weeds on various crops. This herbicide is reported to widely contaminate potable water supplies everywhere it is applied. As such, the European Union banned the use of atrazine in 2004. Currently the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates atrazine at 3 parts per billion (ppb; μg/L) in drinking water, while the World Health Organization recently changed their drinking water guideline to 100 ppb. Atrazine is implicated to be an EDC that alters reproductive dysfunction by targeting the HPG axis. However, questions remain as to the human health risks associated with atrazine exposure with studies reporting mixed results on the ability of atrazine to alter the HPG axis. In this review, the current findings for atrazine’s effects on the HPG axis are examined in mammalian, anuran, and fish models and in epidemiological studies.http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/3/4/414atrazineendocrine disrupting chemicalhormoneshypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axisreproductive dysfunction
spellingShingle Sara E. Wirbisky
Jennifer L. Freeman
Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis
Toxics
atrazine
endocrine disrupting chemical
hormones
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis
reproductive dysfunction
title Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis
title_full Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis
title_fullStr Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis
title_full_unstemmed Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis
title_short Atrazine Exposure and Reproductive Dysfunction through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis
title_sort atrazine exposure and reproductive dysfunction through the hypothalamus pituitary gonadal hpg axis
topic atrazine
endocrine disrupting chemical
hormones
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis
reproductive dysfunction
url http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/3/4/414
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