Associations of paternal serum dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations with IVF success: A pilot study

Raiza Paul; Alejandro Romero; Julia Moltó; Nuria Ortuño; Jon Aizpurua; María José Gómez-Torres

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.112248

Associations of paternal serum dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations with IVF success: A pilot study

Environ Res. 2022 Apr 15:206:112248. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112248. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

Authors

Raiza Paul¹, Alejandro Romero¹, Julia Moltó², Nuria Ortuño², Jon Aizpurua³, María José Gómez-Torres⁴

Affiliations

¹ Biotechnology Department, University of Alicante, Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, P.O. Box 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain.
² Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, P.O. Box 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain; University Institute of Engineering of Chemical Processes, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain.
³ Catedra Human Fertility, University of Alicante, Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, P.O. Box 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain; IVF Spain Treatment Clinic, Avenida de Ansaldo 13, 03540, Alicante, Spain.
⁴ Biotechnology Department, University of Alicante, Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, P.O. Box 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain; Catedra Human Fertility, University of Alicante, Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, P.O. Box 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain. Electronic address: mjose.gomez@ua.es.

PMID: 34688647
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112248

Abstract

Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) are environmental pollutants that have been associated with impaired semen quality. However, research on the potential impact of paternal exposure to DL-PCBs and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes are limited. We examine the relationship between serum DL-PCB concentrations and IVF outcomes among 42 males seeking fertility treatment. Concentrations of 12 serum DL-PCBs were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Modified Poisson regressions, adjusted for confounders, were used to assess bivariate associations and to estimate risk ratios (RRs) between DL-PCBs and binary IVF outcomes. The median concentration (25th-75th percentiles) of the sum of the 12 DL-PCBs (∑DL-PCBs) obtained for the patients was 5.42 (3.78-7.78) ng/g lipid. No statistically significant association between DL-PCB levels and embryo quality was found. However, men with high serum PCB-77 concentrations present more probability of high-quality embryos (RR: 0.292; 95% CI: 0.090-0.942), whereas the opposite trend is observed for men with lower serum levels of PCB-156 (RR: 7.960; 95% CI: 1.020-62.100), who present increased odds of high-quality embryos. Serum concentrations of PCB-126 and PCB-114 were associated with decreased implantation rates (p < 0.05). Moreover, PCB-77 and ∑non-ortho PCBs were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of clinical pregnancy (p < 0.05). A lower likelihood of live birth was associated with higher levels of PCB-77, PCB-105, PCB-118, and recording significant differences for ∑non-ortho PCBs, ∑mono-ortho PCBs, and ∑DL-PCBs (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that paternal DL-PCB exposure before conception may be related to pregnancy endpoints. However, DL-PCB measurement were limited to male partners. Therefore, we propose that future studies with larger population sizes should include both maternal and paternal factors.

Keywords: Clinical pregnancy; Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls; Embryo quality; IVF; Implantation; Live birth.

MeSH terms

Dioxins*
Environmental Pollutants*
Female
Fertilization in Vitro
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Male
Pilot Projects
Polychlorinated Biphenyls*
Pregnancy
Semen Analysis

Substances

Dioxins
Environmental Pollutants
Polychlorinated Biphenyls