Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Endocrine Disrupting Agents (EDAs) are external substances that have the potential to interfere with the natural endocrine pathways such as the reproductive axis. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition resulting in, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperandrogenaemia and subfertility. This study was conducted to see whether there was any association between EDAs and PCOS.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 59 women (29 PCOS and 30 controls) undergoing IVF/ICSI. Serum samples were analysed using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry to identify the presence of common EDAs including, 14 polyfluoroalkyl congeners (PFAAs), 7 Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) congeners, 7 Polybrominated diphenyl ether (BDE) congeners, hexabromocyclododexanes (α-HBCDD, β-HBCDD, γ-HBCDD), and the pesticides perclorobenene (PeCB), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (γ, α, and β-HCH), chlordanes (trans (γ) chlordane, Cis (α) Chlordane), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p-DDT) and its metabolites (op-DDE, pp-DDE, op-DDD), and Mirex. Statistical analysis was undertaken for potential associations with the EDAs, pregnancy rates and various characteristics of an IVF cycle between the PCOS and control groups.

Results: The levels of EDAs in the serum were comparable in each group with only the PFAA congener PFOS having a significantly higher concentration in the PCOS group, (4.11±1.62 ng/ml vs 3.11±1.05 ng/ml, P=0.03). The PFAAs had significant positive correlations with testosterone in both the control (P=0.02) and PCOS (P=0.03) groups. The PFAAs, PCBs and p,p-DDE demonstrated significant positive correlations with cleavage rates (P=0.04, 0.01, and 0.04 respectively). There was no correlation between the levels of EDAs and pregnancy in either group.

Conclusion: EDAs are detectable within subfertile women and that PFOS is significantly higher in PCOS women. There is evidence that these chemicals may disrupt not only endocrine pathways but also affect the cleavage stage in early embryo development. This study demonstrates EDA concentrations continue to decline and the UK has much lower levels than other western industrialized nations.