Reproductive toxicology

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. 

Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology, Fourth Edition, edited by Robert C. Smart and Ernest Hodgson Copyright 2008 John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

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Indicators of toxicity hazards include LD50, LC50, plus a wide range of in vitro and in vivo techniques for assessment of skin and eye indtation, skin sensitization, mutagenicity, acute and chronic dermal and inhalation toxicity, reproductive toxicology, carcinogenicity etc. 

Finnell, R.H., Mohl, V.K., Englen, M.D. (1991). In vitro analysis of the murine heat shock response Implications for reproductive toxicology. Toxicol. Lett. 58, 297-308. 

Faqi AS, Schweinfurth H, Chaheud I (2001) Develepmental toxicity of an octyltin stabilizer in NMRI mice. Reproductive Toxicology, 15 117-122. 

Harazene A, Ema M (2003) Suppression of decidual cell respense induced by dibutyltin dichloride in pseudopregnant rats as a cause ef early embryenic loss. Reproductive Toxicology, 17(4) 393-399. 

NAS/NRC. 1989. Biologic markers in reproductive toxicology. National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council. Washington, DC National Academy Press, 15-35. 

Hewitt M et al. (2007) Structure-based modelling in reproductive toxicology (Q)SARs for the placental barrier. SAR QSAR Environ Res 18(l-2) 57-76 Mekenyan O et al. (2003) In silico modelling of hazard endpoints current problems and perspectives. SAR QSAR Environ Res 14(5-6) 361-371... 

Sokol RZ. 1989. Reversibility of the toxic effect of lead on the male reproductive axis. Reproductive Toxicology 3 175-180. 

Dietert, R.R., Developmental immunotoxicology overview of issues including critical windows of development, Reproductive Toxicology, 17,478, 2003. 

Ladies, G.S., et al., Developmental Toxicology Evaluations - Issues with including neurotoxicology assessments in reproductive toxicology studies, Toxicol. Sci., 88, 24, 2005. 

SOT sunset session Developmental toxicology Issues with including neurotox and immunotox assessments in reproductive toxicology studies. New Orleans, LA March, 2005... 

Another consensus recommendation was that, when possible, methods to assess DIT should be included in existing developmental and reproductive toxicology protocols.1719,30 The feasibility of this approach has been previously demonstrated in studies described by a number of investigators.34 35 36 While it could be argued that DIT methods could also be integrated into the EPA Developmental Neurotoxicity Protocol (OPPTS 870-630037) the consensus was that this approach would not be technically feasible due to the large number of animals already required to conduct that study.7,19,30... 

Mast TA, Rommerein RL, Evan off JJ, et al. 1989b. Inhalation reproductive toxicology studies Male dominant lethal study of n-hexane in Swiss (CD-I) mice. Department of Energy, Washington DC. NTIS No.-DE89000271. PNL-6679. 

Female Reproductive Studies. Before entering a female into a clinical study, it is necessary to have completed the entire reproductive toxicology program, which consists of the following studies. 

Heinrichs, W.L. (1985). Current laboratory approaches for assessing female reproductive toxicity. In Reproductive Toxicology (Dixon, R.L., Ed.). Raven Press, New York, pp. 95-108. 

Working, P.K. (1988). Male reproductive toxicology Comparison of the human to animal... 

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