The reasons why PFAS cause a decrease in fertility have been discovered: they bind to a sperm protein, modifying its structure and preventing it from binding to its homologue in the oocyte
They would bind to a specification protein on the membrane of the spermatozoon, the so-calledIzumo-1“, modifying its structure and preventing its binding with its counterpart on the oocyte membrane, the protein “Juno”: reason why PFAS would reduce fertility.
This is the result of experimental research conducted by Professor Carlo Foresta, president of the Foresta ETS Foundation, in collaboration with Professor Alberto Ferlin of the Department of Medicine of the University of Padua and Professor Diego Guidolin of the Department of Neuroscience.
“Izumo-1” and “Juno”, the scientists explain, are two proteins fundamental in the fertilization processsince they act as a bridge between recognition and fusion between the sperm and the oocyte. If they are missing, the reproductive process goes haywire.
Their interaction is in fact crucial to guarantee that a sperm is able to fertilize an oocyte: after meeting and bonding, the membranes of the sperm and the oocyte fuse, allowing the sperm nucleus to enter the oocyte and therefore actual fertilization.
The results obtained are fundamental in understanding the mechanism that leads to infertility in populations exposed to PFA – comments Carlo Foresta. After research that had highlighted various alterations affecting the spermatozoa, this last piece allows us to understand how these substances are able not only to reduce the number of spermatozoa and to bind to them, reducing their motility, but, even if a spermatozoon were able to to reach the oocyte anyway, naturally or through in vitro fertilization techniques, its ability to fertilize it would still be significantly reduced due to the binding of PFAS to this fundamental protein.
In recent years, attention towards PFAS has greatly increased. It is no coincidence that these are said forever chemicalsthese chemical compounds are known (and used) for their resistance to water, grease and stains, but now also and above all for their ability to persist in the environment and in the human body without degrading. PFAS, in fact, accumulate both in water and in soil, and can enter our body through the consumption of contaminated food or contact with treated objects.
There is already much research that has revealed that exposure to these compounds can have serious health impactsincluding an increased risk of liver disease and immune system problems. Now, this latest Italian study adds a further piece.
