Endocrine disruption Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is an endocrine disruptor ?
Any chemical agent in the environment that can alter normal endocrine system actions leading to deleterious effects on an organism or its progeny.
What are direct acting disruptors ?
- Usually hormone agonists or antagonists
- They interfere with hormone actrions on target cells
What do indirect acting disruptors do ?
- Alteration of hormone dynamics in circulation
- Change of hormone metabolism
- Interference with hormone regulation
Name the ten classes of endocrine disruptors.
- Estrogens
- Anti-Estrogens
- Anti-androgens
- Progestogens
- Adrenal toxins
- Thyrotoxic agents
- Aryl hydrocarbons
- Pancreatic toxins
- Metals
- Retinoids
Name five substance classes with endocrine-disrupting activity.
- Pesticides
- Plasticizers / Softener
- Pharmaceuticals
- Antibotics
- Metals
Name four ligands of the insulin receptor sorted by their affinities (highest affinity first).
- Insulin
- Proinsulin
- IGF 2
- IGF 1
Name four ligands of the IGF_1 receptor sorted by their affinities (highest affinity first).
- IGF 1
- IGF 2
- Insulin and proinsulin (similar affinity)
Name four ligands of the IGF_2 receptor sorted by their affinities (highest affinity first).
- IGF 1 and IGF 2 (same affinity)
- Insulin and proinsulin (similar affinity)
Name four ligands of the relaxin receptor sorted by their affinities (highest affinity first).
- Relaxin
- NGF
- Proinsulin
- IGF
Name a plant which contains estrogenic compounds
Soybeans
Name four naturally occuring estrogenic compounds.
- Genistein
- Enterolactone
- Equol
- Zearalenone
What is DDT ?
- Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
- Insecticide
- Endocrine disruptor
To which diseases or symptoms is DDT linked to in humans ?
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Type-2-diabetes
- Breast cancer
- Decreased sperm counts
Name two similarities between synthetic estrogens.
- They are more or less symetric
- They are stable for years or decades
Name two examples of synthetic estrogens.
- DDT
- Bisphenol A
Name two direct disruptors.
- Estradiol
- Diethylstilbestrol
Name six endocrine disruptors of the ovarian cycle.
- BPA
- Fenvalerate
- DES
- MXC
- TCDD
- DEHP
Name one effect of DTT in animals.
Disruption of reproduction
-> E.g. decreased stability of egg shells
With which mechanism are anti-androgens disrupting hormone signaling ?
Via nuclear receptor competition
Which mechanisms are disrupted by indirect endocrine disruptors ?
- Hormone secretion
- Hormone transport
Name one indirect endocrine disruptor and where it occurs.
- Ketoconazole
- Occurs in some shampoos
What is the effect of Ketoconazole in the human body ?
- Inhibition of steroidogenesis
- Inhibition of cytochrome P450-3A
What effects does Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate probably have on the human body (not yet proven)?
- Carcinogenic: It may cause liver cancer
- Teratogenic : It may cause malformation
- Damage of the testes
- Inhibition of spermatogenesis
What is the effect of Dioxin in the human body ?
Carcinogenesis
