Endocrine system
Definition of endocrine system:
The system of endocrine glands secreting a variety of hormones, which are controlled by peptide hormones released from the pituitary and by direct neural input.[1]
This is the common definition for endocrine system, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
It can be disrupted by a variety of compounds, these include DDT, PCB, PBDE, TBT and APE . These compounds can have a variety of effects in the coastal environment.
It is suspected that these compounds reduce the fertility of wild life. These compounds might be responsible for the observed reduced sperm counts in panthers, reduced penises and abnormal testis morphology in alligators and feminization of the sexual behavior of male seagulls. It has also been suggested that these compounds are responsible for reduced fertility in humans. The sperm quality of humans have decreased world wide over the last 50 years, while the occurrence of testicular cancer and of cryptorchidism (the absence of one or both testes from the scrotum) has increased. [2] [3]
References
- ↑ Lawrence E (ed.), 2000. Henderson’s Dictionary of Biological Terms. 12th edition. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education Limited. Harlow, Great Britain.
- ↑ Dopp, E., Stopper, H., Alink, G.M. 2002, Natural and synthetic estrogens : aspects of the cellular and molecular activity Trivandrum, India : Research Signpost, p. 162.
- ↑ http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/2002/Potency-Phyto-Synthetic2002.htm
