Ten to 17% of American couples currently seek medical help for infertility; half of these problems have a male cause usually of unknown etiology. Wildlife, experimental animal and human epidemiological studies indicate that environmental contaminants, especially organochlorine compounds (OCs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and OC pesticides have adverse effects on male reproduction. To investigate the relationship between measure of human male reproductive health, specifically semen quality and reproductive hormone levels (FSH, LH, testosterone and inhibin B, considered to be the best available endocrine marker of spermatogenesis), OC environmental contaminants and polymorphisms in genes involved in contaminant and sex steroid metabolism (P450), we propose to conduct a case-control study recruiting subjects based on sperm density from an infertility in Detroit, Michigan. Cases will be men with low sperm densities (less than 2 x10x6/ml), and controls (2 groups) will be men with sperm densities greater than 2 but less than 20x10x6/ml, and men with normal sperm densities (greater than 20x10x6/ml). Information on Great Lakes sport-caught fish consumption, as well as on other risk factors will be obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Secondary exposures (contaminants present in Great Lakes fish), including PCBs and OC pesticides will be measured from a blood sample. P450 polymorphisms will be measured in buccal (cheek) cell DNA. This adequately powered case-control study of men with low sperm densities from an area of the Great Lakes with both known OC contamination and a significant percentage of anglers will provide data that will help determine if consumption of Great Lakes sports-caught fish has or does not have adverse effects on measures of male reproductive health.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES011856-04
Application #
6929776
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Program Officer
Gray, Kimberly A
Project Start
2002-09-09
Project End
2007-07-31
Budget Start
2005-08-01
Budget End
2006-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$503,928
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Wirth, Julia J; Mijal, Renee S (2010) Adverse effects of low level heavy metal exposure on male reproductive function. Syst Biol Reprod Med 56:147-67
Meeker, John D; Rossano, Mary G; Protas, Bridget et al. (2010) Environmental exposure to metals and male reproductive hormones: circulating testosterone is inversely associated with blood molybdenum. Fertil Steril 93:130-40
Meeker, John D; Rossano, Mary G; Protas, Bridget et al. (2009) Multiple metals predict prolactin and thyrotropin (TSH) levels in men. Environ Res 109:869-73
Messaros, Bridget M; Rossano, Mary G; Liu, Guanghui et al. (2009) Negative effects of serum p,p'-DDE on sperm parameters and modification by genetic polymorphisms. Environ Res 109:457-64
Wirth, Julia J; Rossano, Mary G; Potter, Rachel et al. (2008) A pilot study associating urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and semen quality. Syst Biol Reprod Med 54:143-54
Diamond, Michael P; Wirth, Julie J; Saed, Ghassan M (2008) PCBs enhance collagen I expression from human peritoneal fibroblasts. Fertil Steril 90:1372-5
Meeker, John D; Rossano, Mary G; Protas, Bridget et al. (2008) Cadmium, lead, and other metals in relation to semen quality: human evidence for molybdenum as a male reproductive toxicant. Environ Health Perspect 116:1473-9
Wirth, Julia J; Rossano, Mary G; Daly, Douglas C et al. (2007) Ambient manganese exposure is negatively associated with human sperm motility and concentration. Epidemiology 18:270-3