Associated Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) on Neuroendocrine Axes and Neurotransmitter Profile in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Condition

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a highly prevalent heterogeneous disease that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. It causes adverse dysfunction in various systems in the body, conjointly nervous, and endocrine systems, thereby claiming its reputation as a heterogeneous syndrome. Recently the link between endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and this disease has been studied extensively to understand the potential role of these chemicals in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Relevant literature obtained through a thorough electronic database search were studied and summarized. It was found that PCOS is associated with increased levels of oxidative stress, and inflammation, which contributes to insulin resistance, obesity, and infertility, and all these dysfunctions can be linked with EDC exposure, either directly or indirectly. There are also alterations in the neurotransmitter profile in PCOS, like that observed in animals after EDC exposure, that possibly lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, frequent mood swings, and depression, which are features closely associated with the disease pathology in women. All these dysfunctions resulting from PCOS interact with each other and make it a complex systemic syndrome. Additionally, several EDCs have been found to play a distinct role in the initiation of features that are analogous to PCOS related dysfunction, indicating the possibility of EDC exposure being the initiating factor for PCOS. © 2021, Zoological Society, Kolkata, India.