Neuroendocrine developmental effects

Further information regarding endocrine effects of DEHP can be found in the following Sections 3.2.2.5 Reproductive Effects, 3.2.2.6 Developmental Effects, 3.5.2 Mechanisms of Toxicity, and 3.6 Toxicities Mediated Through the Neuroendocrine Axis. 

The survival of all species depends on the integrity of its reproductive system. Reproductive toxicology may be defined as the study of the effects of physical and chemical agents on the reproductive and neuroendocrine systems of adult males and females, as well as those of the embryo, fetus, neonate, and prepubertal animal. This chapter focuses primarily on the potential sites of toxic insult in the reproductive systems of adult mammals, the biochemical mechanisms of such toxicants, and the manifestations that may result. The latter part of the above definition is a subspecialty of developmental toxicology (Chapter 34) and is discussed only in brief. 

There are many mammalian examples of single molecules or cocktails of a few molecules that elicit dramatic behavioural effects. Such substances are often referred to as releaser pheromones, whereas chemosignals that cause longer term changes in neuroendocrine or developmental state are usually referred to as primer pheromones. Some examples of mammalian pheromones and their effeets are illustrated in Fig. (14) [252],... 

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