ENDOCRINE MODULATION OF REPRODUCTION

The ability of foreign compounds to affect the functioning of various endocrine systems is currently thought responsible for a wide variety of effects. The presentations in this symposium reviewed the evidence for and against the involvement of endocrine systems in several differ ent aspects of reproduction. The mechanism behind the ability of a tri azine herbicide to cause enhanced appearance of mammary tumors in one strain of female rats is reviewed by Stevens. The data suggest that en hanced aging, not direct mammary modulation, is responsible. Dietary p hytoestrogens, the mediators of their actions, their effects in variou s biological systems, and the relationships between phytoestrogen prod ucers and consumers are all provocatively and succinctly reviewed by H ughes. Kelce presents the strategy used to dissect the mode and mechan isms of action of a fungicide that opened a new awareness in reproduct ive toxicology: the possibility of xenobiotics being antiandrogens. Fi nally, to heighten our understanding of the interplay among hormonal s ystems in vivo, Hess reviews the data that show that androgens are not the only hormones important in the development of the male reproducti ve system: the pituitary is shown to play a critical role at specific stages of development. The breadth of these presentations, and the imp lications of their findings, should make us pause and realize how much there is still to discover about the interaction between the reproduc tive system and anthropogenic compounds.