The escalating prevalence of male infertility and decreasing trend in sperm quality have been correlated with rapid industrialisation and the associated discharge of an excess of synthetic substances into the environment. Humans are inevitably exposed to these ubiquitously distributed environmental contaminants, which possess the ability to intervene with the growth and function of male reproductive organs. Several epidemiological reports have correlated the blood and seminal levels of environmental contaminants with poor sperm quality. Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of various environmental contaminants on spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, Sertoli cells, blood–testis barrier, epididymis and sperm functions. The reported reprotoxic effects include alterations in the spermatogenic cycle, increased germ cell apoptosis, inhibition of steroidogenesis, decreased Leydig cell viability, impairment of Sertoli cell structure and function, altered expression of steroid receptors, increased permeability of blood–testis barrier, induction of peroxidative and epigenetic alterations in spermatozoa resulting in poor sperm quality and function. In light of recent scientific reports, this review discusses the effects of environmental contaminants on the male reproductive function and the possible mechanisms of action.

中文翻译：

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环境污染物和男性不育：影响和机制

男性不育患病率的上升和精子质量下降的趋势与快速工业化以及相关的过量合成物质向环境的排放有关。人类不可避免地要暴露于这些无处不在的环境污染物中，这些污染物具有干预男性生殖器官的生长和功能的能力。几项流行病学报告已经将血液和精液水平与精子质量差相关联。已经进行了许多体内和体外研究，以研究各种环境污染物对精子生成，类固醇生成，支持细胞，血睾丸屏障，附睾和精子功能的影响。报道的生殖毒性作用包括生精周期的改变，增加生殖细胞凋亡，抑制类固醇生成，降低Leydig细胞活力，破坏支持细胞结构和功能，改变类固醇受体的表达，增加血液-睾丸屏障的通透性，诱导精子中过氧化和表观遗传学改变，从而导致精子质量下降和功能。根据最近的科学报告，本综述讨论了环境污染物对男性生殖功能的影响以及可能的作用机制。诱导精子过氧化和表观遗传改变，导致精子质量和功能下降。根据最近的科学报告，本综述讨论了环境污染物对男性生殖功能的影响以及可能的作用机制。诱导精子过氧化和表观遗传改变，导致精子质量和功能下降。根据最近的科学报告，本综述讨论了环境污染物对男性生殖功能的影响以及可能的作用机制。