To assess common principles of the action of AACs in the analysed systematic groups (including man) so
that new, sensitive, and specific animal models for extrapolation to human health can be developed.
To date, by far the greatest attention to endocrine activity of environmental chemicals has been focussed on estrogens.
It is well known however, that there are chemicals discharged into the environment that have a variety of other endocrine
activities and many of these chemicals end up in European aquatic ecosystems. Many of the compounds suspected as
xeno-androgens or -antiandrogens are high production volume (HPV) chemicals with a wide usage as e.g. plastic stabilisers
or agricultural pesticides (especially fungicides). For these compounds, also a human exposure and therefore a negative
impact on human health is likely, either by the ingestion of contaminated food or additionally by an occupational exposure.
It is the aim to elucidate common principles of the action of AACs in the different biological taxa considered within the
COMPRENDO programme. This will include the evaluation of similarities and differences in the androgen receptors as well
as in the biosynthesis, physiological role, and metabolism of endogenous androgens in the different species. Based on this
evaluation, the potential of the different vertebrate and invertebrate species under investigation as new animal models for
extrapolation on human health will be characterised.
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