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Sex dimorphic behaviors as markers of neuroendocrine disruption by environmental chemicals: The case of chlorpyrifos
- Source :
- NeuroToxicology. 33:1420-1426
- Publication Year :
- 2012
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2012.
-
Abstract
- The complexity of the neuroendocrine level of investigation requires the assessment of behavioral patterns that extend beyond the reproductive functions, which are age- and sex-specific in rodents, described by defined clusters of behavioral items regulated by genetic, hormonal, and epigenetic factors. The study of social behavior in laboratory rodents reveals sex-dimorphic effects of environmental chemicals that may be undetected either by a traditional neurotoxicological approach or referring to the classical definition of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Here we review data on the neurobehavioral effects of developmental exposure to the non-persistent organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos, whose neurotoxic activity at low doses is currently a matter of concern for children's health. In mice exposed to chlorpyrifos in utero and/or in early development social/emotional responses are differently affected in the two sexes in parallel with sex-dependent interference on hypothalamic neuroendocrine pathways regulating social behaviors (vasopressin, oxytocin, and steroid regulated systems). Through the analysis of complex sex-dimorphic behavioral patterns we show that neurotoxic and endocrine disrupting activities of CPF overlap. This widely diffused organophosphorus pesticide might thus be considered as a neuroendocrine disruptor possibly representing a risk factor for sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Neurotoxicity Syndrome
Emotions
Endocrine Disruptors
Toxicology
Risk Assessment
Mice
chemistry.chemical_compound
Sex Factors
Pregnancy
Internal medicine
medicine
Animals
Humans
Endocrine system
Epigenetics
Social Behavior
Sex Characteristics
Behavior, Animal
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
General Neuroscience
Age Factors
Brain
Behavioral pattern
Endocrinology
chemistry
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Chlorpyrifos
Environmental Pollutants
Female
Neurotoxicity Syndromes
Psychology
Neuroscience
Social behavior
Hormone
Sex characteristics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 0161813X
- Volume :
- 33
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- NeuroToxicology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4d1dc5f3eed25d91e4b879d8ab619a9f