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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that have hormone-like effects inside the body. Endocrine disruptors can affect adrenal glands in humans and animals. Adrenocortical dysfunction related to chemical exposure has been reported in the literature.The human adrenal gland is crucial for the synthesis of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens) and amino acid-derived hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine). All steps in the adrenocortical steroidogenesis pathway are potential targets for chemical inhibition, including the adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, mitochondrial cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP11A1, CYP17, CYP21, CYP11B1, and CYP11B2), and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase D4,5 isomerase. EDCs either inhibit the enzymes in steroid biosynthesis or, occasionally, activate them further.Several studies have reported evidence linking EDC exposure to different cancers, early puberty, and reproductive dysfunction. The risk of these harmful effects is higher during development. Pregnant women, babies, children, and adolescents are especially vulnerable, and should therefore be kept away from these chemicals.

Author ORCID Identifier

GÜLAY ŞİMŞEK BAĞIR: 0000-0001-5747-407X

MELEK EDA ERTÖRER: 0000-0001-7357-8709

DOI

10.55730/1300-0144.6121

Keywords

Endocrine disruption, adrenal, hormones

First Page

1613

Last Page

1619

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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