Single-cell transcriptomics allows novel insights into the endocrine-disrupting chemicals induced mammalian reproductive disorder

Abstract

Increasing environmental pollution has led to the spread of many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) around the world, which are toxic substances in the form of compounds that pose a great threat to the reproductive health of mammals and become a potential cause of many reproductive function-related diseases. In the past decade, the rapid development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has greatly promoted the study of the toxic mechanisms of EDCs in the mammalian reproductive system, including DEHP, ZEN, BPA, and BDE47. These studies aim to resolve the interference of EDCs in critical stages of reproductive development, including prepubertal and pubertal in males, meiosis I and early follicle formation in females. This paper introduces the sequencing process and analysis methods of current mainstream scRNA-seq technology, systematically reviews the outstanding contributions and specific research ideas of this technology in the study of reproductive system toxicity, lists representative cases of using this technology to explore reproductive damage caused by EDCs, and summarizes in detail the connection between environmental pollution and reproductive development disorders. It provides an important theoretical basis and direction for further exploring the mechanism of damage to the physiological functions of toxic substances on the reproductive system and the prevention and treatment of reproductive diseases.

Keywords: Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Germ cells; Reproduction; Single-cell RNA sequencing.