Semen quality in relation to xenohormone and dioxin-like serum activity among Inuits and three European populations.

Background: Semen quality in humans may be influenced by exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds.

Objectives: We analyzed associations between semen characteristics and serum xenoestrogen receptor (XER), xenoandrogen receptor (XAR), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivity. XER and XAR activity were measured in serum samples cleared for endogenous steroid hormones and AhR activity in raw lipophilic serum extracts free of proteins.