Evidence that endocrine disrupting chemicals interact with activin A to affect reproductive health

Male reproductive disorders are increasingly common worldwide, yet the causes are not understood. This thesis investigated how fetal testis development is affected by two factors: activin A, an important hormone, and phthalates, a group of widely used industrial chemicals found in everyday products. Using mouse models and human testis cancer derived cells, this research revealed that exposure to either high levels of activin A or phthalates interferes with normal testis development, with much worse outcomes when combined. This discovery shows how commonplace environmental exposures and normal biological factors may interact during pregnancy to influence male reproductive health.