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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
07:08
Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Targeting Epigenetic Dysregulation: Antioxidants as Countermeasures Against EDC-Induced Reproductive Toxicity
Yue Feng1, Dake Chen1, Junjing Wu1
1Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China.
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) cause reproductive harm via oxidative stress and epigenetic changes. Antioxidants like melatonin can protect reproductive health by targeting these epigenetic disruptions.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Environmental Epigenetics
- Oxidative Stress Biology
Background:
- Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widespread and threaten mammalian reproductive health.
- EDCs induce oxidative stress, leading to epigenetic dysregulation (DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs) in germ cells.
- This creates a cycle of redox imbalance and epigenetic changes, causing gametogenesis impairment, reduced fertility, and transgenerational effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanistic link between EDC exposure, oxidative stress, epigenetic dysregulation, and reproductive toxicity.
- To summarize evidence on how antioxidants counteract EDC-induced reproductive toxicity by targeting epigenetic mechanisms.
- To provide a basis for reproductive health protection strategies against EDCs and identify epigenetic biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating EDC reproductive toxicity.
- Analysis of the role of oxidative stress as a mediator of EDC-induced epigenetic changes.
- Examination of the protective mechanisms of various antioxidants against EDC-induced reproductive damage.
Main Results:
- EDCs trigger oxidative stress, damaging antioxidant systems and epigenetic regulators.
- Antioxidants (melatonin, vitamin C, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate) mitigate EDC reproductive toxicity.
- Antioxidants work by scavenging reactive oxygen species, activating antioxidant pathways, and restoring epigenetic enzyme activity and histone modifications.
Conclusions:
- A clear mechanistic link exists between EDC exposure, oxidative stress, epigenetic dysregulation, and reproductive toxicity.
- Antioxidants protect germ cell epigenetic homeostasis, alleviating EDC-induced reproductive harm.
- This understanding supports developing strategies for reproductive health protection and exploring clinical epigenetic biomarkers.
Keywords:
antioxidantsendocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)epigenetic regulationoxidative stressreproductive healthtransgenerationalMore Related Videos
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