Spermaturia and serum hormone concentrations at the age of puberty in boys prenatally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls

Mol, NM; Sørensen, N; Weihe, P; Andersson, AM; Jørgensen, N; Skakkebaek, NE; Keiding, N; Grandjean, P

HERO ID

758063

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2002

Language

English

PMID

11888842

HERO ID 758063
In Press No
Year 2002
Title Spermaturia and serum hormone concentrations at the age of puberty in boys prenatally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls
Authors Mol, NM; Sørensen, N; Weihe, P; Andersson, AM; Jørgensen, N; Skakkebaek, NE; Keiding, N; Grandjean, P
Journal European Journal of Endocrinology
Volume 146
Issue 3
Page Numbers 357-363
Abstract To determine whether prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with possible hormone-disrupting effects is capable of affecting sexual differentiation in boys at the age of puberty.<br /><br /> Following analysis for PCB in their umbilical cords, 196 boys from a Faroese birth cohort were examined for the development of puberty at 14 years of age.<br /><br /> Physical examination included determination of Tanner stages and testicular size. A morning urine sample was centrifuged and examined for the presence of sperm. Serum was analyzed for sex hormones.<br /><br /> twenty boys (10.2%) had abnormalities in testicular development, mainly cryptorchidism. only three of them had a positive spermaturia test, but the level of exposure to pcbs in this group had not been increased. occurrence of spermaturia in 58 of the remaining 176 boys was also not associated with pcb exposure but showed highly significant associations with tanner stages and testicular size. serum concentrations of testosterone, fsh and lh were higher in boys with spermaturia, while sex hormone-binding globulin was lower and no difference occurred in inhibin b. serum hormone parameters showed only weak associations with the level of prenatal pcb exposure.<br /><br /> These findings support the validity of spermaturia as a useful indicator of puberty, although a substantial rate of false negatives must be taken into account. Despite the wide range of exposure to PCB, the findings did not reveal any definite associations with the development of puberty. However, because of the limited size of the cohort, small effects cannot be excluded.
Doi 10.1530/eje.0.1460357
Pmid 11888842
Wosid WOS:000178742900012
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English