Endocrine Abstracts

Sao Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil and its huge number of vehicles contributes for a higher concentration of air pollutants that may interfere in human fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of air pollution of vehicular origin on hormonal and seminal parameters of traffic controllers. Clinical history, physical examination (testicular volume, presence of varicocele, cryptorchidism, malformations), hormonal (estradiol, LH, FSH and total testosterone) and seminal parameters (concentration, motility, morphology by WHO´s criteria and Kruger´s strict criteria, leukocytes detection test, CK, ROS and anti-sperm antibody tests) were carried out in 62 traffic controllers (exposed group) and in 210 proven fertile men from the pre-vasectomy group of Urologic Clinic at Hospital das Clinicas – University of Sao Paulo (control group). Exposition to air pollution was analyzed through the dispersion of pollutants recorded by Cetesb, generated in the software SURFER 8.0. Hormonal levels were at normal range in both groups: Estradiol (P = 0.119), LH (P = 0.644), FSH (P = 0.140) and Total Testosterone (P = 0.365). Traffic controllers presented bigger testicular volume than pre-vasectomy group (P < 0.001). Sperm concentration was homogeneous in both groups (P = 0.395): traffic controllers presented mean of 124.9 × 10⁶/ml and pre-vasectomy group 110.1 × 10⁶/ml. Exposed group presented total motility (60%) diminished than control group (65%) (P = 0.047), as progressive motility was also diminished in the exposed group (P < 0.001). The sperm morphologies as by WHO´s criteria (exposed group = 12%; control group = 20%), as by Kruger´s strict criteria (exposed group = 3%; control group = 6%) were significantly diminished in the exposed group (P < 0.001). Sperm maturity marker CK was at normal range at both groups, but higher in the control one (P < 0.001). Anti-sperm antibodies and ROS were elevated in both groups, however it was not significant (P = 0.382 and P = 0.141, respectively). Air pollution has a deleterious effect on sperm motility and morphology but not in male hormonal levels. It also causes elevation of ROS levels, indicating deficit in sperm function, and elevation of anti-sperm antibodies levels, suggesting that air pollutants would have transposed the blood-testis barrier. Testicular volume in the exposed group was higher than those measuredin the control group; we can suppose that it must occur due to an inflammatory reaction against the polluting agents. Although the significant difference in air pollutants concentrations between groups, no direct correlation to seminal parameters could be demonstrated.