Impact of triazoles on ovarian cells of patients and link to groundwater and soil

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), often associated with obesity, is the main reproductive disorder in women of childbearing age. Two fungicides, Tebuconazole (Tb) and Epoxiconazole (Epox), are present in soils and groundwater in the Centre Val de Loire region. We show that Epox and Tb reduce steroid synthesis by human ovarian cells (hCG), probably via the nuclear receptor, AhR. Moreover, Tb is more cytotoxic than Epox on hCG. Finally, we found that Tb and Epox more strongly altered the ovarian cells of PCOS and/or obese patients, suggesting that women with certain fertility and/or metabolic disorders are more sensitive to triazole exposure