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Endemic fluorosis in Henan province, China: ERa gene polymorphisms and reproductive hormones among womenAbstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of fluoride exposure and ERa gene polymorphisms on reproductive hormone concentrations of women in accordance with endemic fluorosis residence.
METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional study was conducted in Tongxu county, Henan Province, China. A total of 679 women were recruited using cluster sampling and each subject provided fasting blood and an associated urine sample. We measured the concentrations of serum gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol and urinary fluoride.
RESULTS: In the defluoridation project group (DFPG), serum GnRH was lower in women carrying C/C genotype compared to in those carrying C/T and T/T genotypes of ERa gene rs3798577 (p<0.05). In the endemic fluorosis group (EFG), serum GnRH was lower in women carrying Pp genotype compared to in those carrying PP and pp genotypes of ERa PvuII (p<0.05). Serum GnRH in women from EFG who carried Pp, pp, Xx and xx genotypes in ERa gene PvuII and XbaI was lower than in those in the control group (CG) who carried same genotypes (p<0.05). Furthermore, serum GnRH in women from EFG was significantly lower than in those in CG, regardless of whether the women were carrying C/C, C/T or T/T genotypes of ER? rs3798577 (p<0.05). Serum estradiol concentrations in EFG were significantly lower than in CG when the women were carrying the Pp, Xx and T/T genotypes in ERa gene (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Interaction of ERa gene and fluoride exposure may influence women’s serum reproductive hormone concentrations.