Hedgehog signal disruption, gonadal dysgenesis and reproductive disorders: Is there a link to endocrine disrupting chemicals?

摘要: Abstract Developmental exposure to chemicals that can disrupt sex hormone signaling may cause a broad spectrum of reproductive disorders. This is because development tightly regulated by steroid hormones. Consequently, non-animal screening methods currently used test for potential endocrine disrupting activities typically include steroidogenesis and nuclear receptor assays. In many cases there correlation between in vitro vivo data examining disruption, example blocked androgen activity feminized male genitals. However, are examples where poor, or no, effect outcomes rodent studies, various reasons. One possible, less studied, reason discordance the mechanisms causing effects not covered those tested vitro. knowledge gap must be addressed if we elaborate robust testing strategies do rely on animal experimentation. this review, highlight Hedgehog (HH) pathway as target environmental its implications disorders originating from early life exposure. A central proposition that, HH signal transduction during critical stages mammalian development, cells testes ovaries fail develop normally, which ultimately will lead disrupted synthesis sexual both sexes. If case, then such mechanism also included future aimed at eliminating humans.