Adverse Effects of Pesticides on the Ovary: Evidence from Epidemiological and Toxicological Studies
Linping Wang, Xiaochen Ma, Jing Liu
Abstract
studies have shown that exposure to pesticides disrupts the estrous cycle, reduces the follicle pool, alters hormone levels, and impairs oocyte maturation. Mechanisms of action of pesticides on ovarian function include effects on steroid receptors, hormone synthesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, epigenetic modifications, and signaling pathways. Gaps in knowledge and further research needs include prospective cohort studies with adequate sample sizes to elucidate the effects of different classes of pesticides (especially emerging insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) and mixture exposures on ovarian health, the development of effective toxicological models that can approximate or simulate realistic human exposure scenarios, and the translation of toxicological findings into measurable indicators that can be used in human health risk assessment. In summary, this Review aims to improve the understanding of the risk to women's reproductive health from exposures to pesticides and to provide insights into strategies for preventing and managing reproductive health risks.