In the St. Lawrence River near Montreal’s sewage discharge site, male spottail shiners show the effects of pollution with more than one third of the fish having oocytes in their testes. This is one of many examples of Professor Daniel Cyr’s research at INRS, during which he has studied the effects of human activity on male fertility in various species, including man. His research has received significant recognition and support, including the recently awarded Canada Research Chair in Reproductive Toxicology.
Environmental pollutants affect male reproduction in many species, including humans. Numerous substances interfere with finely tuned hormonal signalling mechanisms, resulting in multiple pathologies, including infertility. Professor Cyr’s research focuses primarily on understanding how environmental pollutants can affect sperm maturation, a process that occurs in the epididymis, where sperm acquires the ability to swim and fertilize.
Prof. Cyr’s research team has developed novel tools to study human epididymal function, including unique rodent and human cell lines to understand how genes can be altered in the epididymis, resulting in infertility. Of significance is the role of a cellular barrier in the epididymis, which protects the maturing sperm from the immune system while creating an environment that is necessary for sperm maturation. How environmental contaminants can alter this barrier, threatening sperm development and, consequently, male fertility remains a major focus of research.
Knowledge acquired through the activities of the new chair will contribute to the development of novel methods and data that will provide better guidelines for more effective ecosystem protection, in particular by helping to establish standards and strategies for governments.
Professor Daniel G. Cyr
holds an MSc degree in environmental toxicology from Concordia University and a PhD in endocrinology from the University of Manitoba. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at McGill University, he worked as a researcher for the federal government before joining INRS in 1997. Considered a pioneer in research on endocrine disruptors and cellular interactions in male reproduction, he has authored over 160 peer-reviewed publications and given over 100 guest lectures worldwide. ♦
Katika Mto St. Lawrence karibu na eneo la kutolewa kwa maji machafu ya Montreal, samaki wa kiume wa spotted-tail shiners huonyesha athari za uchafuzi na zaidi ya thuluthi moja ya samaki wana oocytes katika testicles zao. Katika utafiti wake wa mwaka huu, Profesa Daniel Cyr alielezea athari za shughuli za binadamu kwenye uzazi wa wanaume katika spishi mbalimbali, ikiwa ni pamoja na binadamu. Utafiti wake umepokea utambuzi mkubwa na msaada, ikiwa ni pamoja na tuzo ya hivi karibuni ya Utafiti wa Canada katika Toxicology ya Uzazi. Vichocheo vya mazingira huathiri uzazi wa wanaume katika spishi nyingi, kutia ndani wanadamu. Vitu vingi huingilia kati na utaratibu wa ishara za homoni, na kusababisha magonjwa mengi, kutia ndani utasa. Utafiti wa Profesa Cyr unazingatia hasa kuelewa jinsi uchafuzi wa mazingira unavyoweza kuathiri kukomaa kwa shahawa, mchakato ambao hutokea katika epididymis, ambapo shahawa hupata uwezo wa kuogelea na kuzalisha. Timu ya utafiti ya Profesa Cyr imebuni zana mpya za kusoma kazi ya epididymal ya binadamu, ikiwa ni pamoja na mstari wa kipekee wa seli za panya na binadamu kuelewa jinsi jeni zinaweza kubadilishwa katika epididymis, na kusababisha utasa. Hatua hii ni muhimu kwa sababu ina jukumu la kizuizi cha seli katika epididymis, ambayo inalinda sperm kutoka kwa mfumo wa kinga wakati wa kuunda mazingira muhimu kwa ukomavu wa sperm. Jinsi uchafuzi wa mazingira unavyoweza kubadilisha kizuizi hiki, kukatisha tamaa ya maendeleo ya shahawa na, kwa hivyo, uzazi wa kiume unabaki kuwa lengo kuu la utafiti. Ujuzi unaopatikana kupitia shughuli za kiti kipya utachangia maendeleo ya mbinu mpya na data ambazo zitatoa miongozo bora kwa ulinzi bora wa mazingira, haswa kwa kusaidia kuanzisha viwango na mikakati kwa serikali. Profesa Daniel G. Cyr ana shahada ya MSc katika sumu ya mazingira kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Concordia na PhD katika endocrinology kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Manitoba. Baada ya kumaliza masomo yake ya postdoctoral katika Chuo Kikuu cha McGill, alifanya kazi kama mtafiti kwa serikali ya shirikisho kabla ya kujiunga na INRS mnamo 1997. Akiwa mwanzilishi wa utafiti wa vichocheo vya endocrine na mwingiliano wa seli katika uzazi wa kiume, ameandika zaidi ya machapisho 160 yaliyokaguliwa na wenzao na kutoa hotuba zaidi ya 100 za wageni ulimwenguni. ♦