Vulnerable processes of nervous system development: a review of markers and methods.

摘要: The susceptibility of the developing nervous system to damage following exposure environmental contaminants has been well recognized. More recently, from a regulatory perspective, an increased emphasis placed on vulnerability pesticide exposure. publication National Academy Sciences (NAS) report Pesticides in Diets Infants and Children (1995) passage Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Safe Drinking Water (SDWA) amendments have significantly escalated scientific debate regarding age-related susceptibility. Key concerns raised NAS include qualitative quantitative differences that distinguish adult. It was suggested neurotoxicity testing adult animals alone may not be predictive these is compounded by protracted period time over which this complex organ develops. This temporal spans embryonic, fetal, infant, adolescent periods. Normal development requires concomitant coordinated ontogeny proliferation, migration, differentiation, synaptogenesis, gliogenesis, myelination apoptosis occur temporally- regionally-dependent manner. Perturbations processes during can result long-term irreversible consequences affect structure function could account for as compared system. A discussion developmental milestones relevance transient effects endpoints are presented. Transient perturbations missed or dismissed depending experimental design screening strategy employed. subject discussed light uncertainties perturbation-induced compensation Thus, utilization age-appropriate tests improve detection reduce uncertainty about nature adverse neurotoxicants.