Can phenolic plasticising agents affect testicular development by disturbing intracellular calcium homeostasis?

The testis is a complex organ consisting of a variety of cells such as germinal cells, Leydig cells, Myoid cells and Sertoli cells. It is the Sertoli cells which are essential in deLarmnrng sperm number and sperm development. The number of Sertoli cells is governed during neonatal development by the adon of homones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oesbogen [ 11. One hypothesis is that phenolic antioxidants / plasticising agents, which are prevalent in our environment could be mimicking oestrogeas, which in tun^ could be affecting satoli cell development. There appears to be some evidence for this as commonly occurring phenolic agents such as aonylphenol and bisphenol A can bind to oestrogen rrceptors I2.31. An alternative possibility which we are presently investigating is that -+phenolic ts could also be inhibiting intracellular Ca pumps (&R-ATpaseS), w y t