RESEARCH: Are environmental contaminants disrupting human reproduction?

In this 10-minute video, three scientists explain their NIH-funded research aimed at answering whether environmental contaminants might be causing widespread human reproductive diseases in industrialized countries. Their study model is the stickleback fish, which has a hormone system very similar to humans. In sticklebacks, unregulated compounds like perchlorate -- widespread in U.S. water systems -- are modifying the fish's reproductive capacities and turning females into hermaphrodites producing both sperm and eggs. It is over-masculinizing the male fish so they produce enlarged testes. How is this happening? What are the implications for humans? Listen to aquatic ecotoxicologist Frank von Hippel and endocrinologist Loren Buck from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and Bill Cresko from the University of Oregon describe their collaborative effort. Their work is funded by a prestigious RO1 grant from the NIH.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Frank von Hippel
• stickleback fish
• perchlorate
• NIH RO1 grant
• hermaphrodite
• Loren Buck
• Bill Cresko
• University of Alaska Anchorage
• University of Oregon

[wheelori814]

very informative. Maybe this is why i developed hypothyroidism several months after moving to arizona! I have just started to suppliment iodine/iodide in my diet and boy does it help!