Sperm DNA integrity in relation to exposure to environmental perfluoroalkyl substances – A study of spouses of pregnant women in three geographical regions.

• Published in: Reproductive Toxicology
• Main Authors: 9.1. Olmer Specht I, Hougaard KS, Spanò M, Bizzaro D, MANICARDI, Gian Carlo, Lindh CG, Toft G, Jönsson BAG, Giwercman A, Bonde JP
• Other Authors: Olmer Specht I, 9. 1., Hougaard, K, Spanò, M, Bizzaro, D, Manicardi, Gian Carlo, Lindh, Cg, Toft, G, Jönsson, Bag, Giwercman, A, Bonde, Jp
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Perfluorinated compounds Human fertility DNA fragmentation index Sperm chromatin structure assay TUNEL assay Fas receptor Bcl-xL; Greenland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11380/732047; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2012.02.008

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can interfere with male reproductive function, but evidence in humansis limited. Six hundred four fertilemen(199 from Greenland, 197 from Poland and 208 from Ukraine) wereenrolled in the study. We measured four PFASs in serum (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS) and concurrentDNA damage in spermatozoa by sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, apoptotic markers in semen (Fas-receptorand Bcl-xL), and reproductive hormones in serum. No association between PFASs and SCSA, apoptoticmarkers or reproductive hormones emerged.Weobserved a slight increase in SHBG and TUNEL-positivitywith increased PFOA exposure in men from Greenland. Thus, consistent evidence that PFAS exposureinterferes with sperm DNA fragmentation, apoptosis or reproductive hormones was not found.