Screening and Testing for EDCs

The yeast reporter gene assays not only assess for the interaction of the chemical with the hormone receptor, but also the ability of that receptor-chemical ligand interaction to activate the hormone DNA response element. It should be realized, however, that most of these systems have been developed with human and mammalian hormone receptors and differences in ligand potencies can occur between different animal species. A comprehensive review of in vitro assays for measuring estrogenic activity, and some of the issues of comparability, is provided by Zacharewski (1997). 

Organic Pollutants An Ecotoxicological Perspective, Second Edition 

What is important to emphasize is that, given the range of known EDCs, their potential to act with more than one mechanism of action, and ability of some chemicals to mediate effects via mnltiple tissues, no single effective test exists for an endocrine disrnpter rather, a snite of approaches is reqnired to capture the spectrum of possible effects. 

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