P. Sreenivasula Reddy — новинки

Deterioration of male reproductive health is one of the rising problems in the recent past. Many reproductive malformations including retention of nipples, abnormal sexual behavior, birth defects, decreased spermatogenesis, reduced gonad weights and sub-fertility/ infertility have been reported in laboratory animals and wildlife exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals. It has been reported that many pollutants act as endocrine disrupting chemicals and capable of affecting reproduction. It is also believed that, reproductive disorders are thought to originate in developing stages of the fetus’s life in the womb and continue to occur throughout the reproduction. Exposure to xenobiotics during early stages of life is of particular concern since embryos are highly sensitive to toxicants. Vinclozolin is a systemic dicarboximide fungicide used to control the fungus by inhibiting the spore germination on several fruits and vegetables. We have evaluated and presented data in this book whether vinclozolin has any significant effect on reproduction in adult male rat. This book also provides valuable information on prenatal exposure to vinclozolin on changes in reproduction in adult rats.

Adverse trends in reproductive health of wildlife and humans are significantly increased during the last few years. It is widely acknowledged that one of the possible reasons for the deteriorated reproductive health is exposure to a range of occupational and/or environmental contaminants. Among the contaminants, lead (Pb) is one of the non-essential metal toxicants and is mainly used in the manufacture of lead-based storage batteries, painting pigments, solder, automobiles, radio-activity shields. It is believed that Pb is non-biodegradable, immutable and bio-accumulative in nature and thus its release into the environment tends to persist inadequately and accumulate in the living organisms throughout food chain. Thus, it seems apparent that exposure to lead is implicated in serious health hazards in animals and humans. There is a lack of literature data related to the effect of Pb on male reproduction, particularly at the dose levels occurring in drinking water in wide areas of India and in other countries. The present book focuses on reproductive toxicity in rats exposed to Pb during perinatal/adult period.

In recent years, there is an increasing concern that occupational and environmental exposure to toxic pollutants disrupts male reproduction of wild life and humans. Phthalates are a family of industrial chemicals produced from alcohols that have been used for a variety of purposes, such as plasticizers that impart flexibility and durability to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. When incorporated into PVC, phthalates are not covalently bound and are therefore easily released into the environment, consequently resulting in animal and human exposure. Besides, phthalates have also been used throughout the world in construction materials, food packaging products, cosmetics, insecticides, manufacturing of children products (toys, grip bumpers), and medical devices and ubiquitous in nature. Humans are exposed to phthalates through ingestion, inhalation and dermal exposure. There is lack of literature data related to the effect of phthalates on male reproduction. Therefore, we have evaluated systematically and presented data in this book whether phthalate has any significant effect on reproduction in male rat. The book also provides valuable information on protective effect of testosterone

The role of androgens in development of male reproductive organs is well documented. The role of estrogens in the development of male reproductive organs remains largely unknown; although both estrogen receptors and aromatase enzyme have been identified in the developing penis of a number of species, including humans. Male offspring of women exposed to diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy have higher incidences of epididymal cysts, cryptorchidism, hypospadiasis, and smaller testes. Since female hormones were routinely prescribed to treat threatened pregnancy and considering the potential implications of female hormones during prenatal period on the development of male reproductive system, the present book describes the effect of prenatal exposure to progesterone on adult male reproduction. Significant deterioration in reproduction was observed in mice exposed to progesterone during embryonic development which includes reduction in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. Testosterone supplementation during post-natal period partially restored the suppressed reproduction. This book provides valuable information to those working in mammalian reproduction and also to the interested layman.

Arsenic, a potent toxic mutagenic and xenobiotic metalloid, has been detected during the last 5 years as a major pollutant of drinking water in Bangladesh, Northern Chile, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Inner Mongolia, Mexico, Argentina, Finland, Hungary and India. Both the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the US Environmental Protection Agency have given the highest priority to arsenic-related toxic studies and ranked it number one on the most hazardous substances list, based on a combination of its incidence, toxicity and potential for human exposure. Survey reports revealed that the intake of arsenic-contaminated drinking water caused several reproductive disturbances in women. There is a lack of literature data related to the effect of arsenic on male reproduction, particularly at the dose levels occurring in drinking water in wide areas of India and in other countries. Therefore we have evaluated systematically and presented data in this book whether arsenic has any significant effect on reproduction and metabolism in adult male Swiss albino mice. This book also provides valuable information on protective effect of thiol compounds on arsenic-induced toxicity.

The increasing demand for high-protein food from aquatic sources and the necessity to find an alternative for fisheries have given rise to a world-wide expansion of crustacean aquaculture. The bottleneck in crustacean aquaculture industry is the limited availability of quality seed. Eyestalk ablation technique is now practiced in the shrimp farms world-wide to induce spawning. The limitation with eyestalk-ablation-induced reproduction is the poor quality of the seed produced and high mortality in the brood stock. To overcome the above problems, one important task for the aquaculture biotechnologists will be finding the alternatives for eyestalk ablation that can accomplish the same increase in productivity. For a long time, biogenic amines have been considered as neurotransmitters and regulate a variety of functions including reproduction in crustaceans. This study aims at elucidating the effect of dopamine, serotonin and melatonin on ovarian maturation and growth in the fresh water edible crab, Oziotelphusa senex senex. This book provides valuable information to those working for hatchery industry and scientists working in the area of aquaculture and also to the interested layman.