Female reproductive and developmental toxicology: overview and current approaches.
In recent years, concern about possible female reproductive and developmental toxicity due to environmental contaminants, such as PCBs, has been growing. Because this area of toxicology had not been emphasized prior to this time, there are many gaps in current knowledge about female developmental and reproductive toxicology and only a limited number of validated tests to assay effects of toxicants on various parts of the reproductive and developmental cycle. This article reviews the current state of knowledge on this topic and also explores a variety of techniques for assessing female reproductive and developmental toxicity. These include an assay of the state of intercellular communication among the embryo, fetus and placenta; protocols for assessing toxicity in early pregnancy; and techniques for evaluating the role of glutathione in protecting the conceptus from xenobiotics.
Kamrin
M A
MA
Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
Carney
E W
EW
Chou
K
K
Cummings
A
A
Dostal
L A
LA
Harris
C
C
Henck
J W
JW
Loch-Caruso
R
R
Miller
R K
RK
D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005978:Glutathione / Q000502:physiology; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018812:Paternal Exposure; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012107:Research Design
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D005978:Glutathione