Calamandrei Gemma, Maranghi Francesca, Venerosi Aldina, Alleva Enrico, Mantovani Alberto
Section of Behavioural Neurosciences, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, I-0016 Roma, Italy.
Reprod Toxicol. 2006 Aug;22(2):164-74. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2006.04.003. Epub 2006 Apr 28.
Maturation of neuroendocrine regulations is an extremely complex process made up of several stages, that can be permanently affected by any exogenous substances able to interfere with the hormonal signalling at various levels. The Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a heterogeneous group of xenobiotics with potential endocrine activities which have been identified as priority risk factors in toxicological research. The present review is aimed at suggesting a number of endocrine and behavioural endpoints to be used in experimental studies to: (i) characterize more thoroughly the functional effects of developmental exposure to agents known to act as endocrine disruptors and (ii) unmask possible interferences with the maturation of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad/thyroid (HHG/Th) axis by different class of xenobiotics not considered as EDCs. A combined testing strategy, considering both markers of endocrine/hormonal maturation and behavioural endpoints under hormonal control in laboratory rodents, may evidence even subtle perturbations of the neuroendocrine homeostasis, that often go undetected.
神经内分泌调节的成熟是一个极其复杂的过程，由几个阶段组成，任何能够在不同水平干扰激素信号传导的外源性物质都可能对其产生永久性影响。内分泌干扰化学物质（EDCs）是一类具有潜在内分泌活性的异源生物，已被确定为毒理学研究中的优先风险因素。本综述旨在提出一些内分泌和行为终点，用于实验研究，以：（i）更全面地表征发育过程中接触已知作为内分泌干扰物的物质的功能影响，以及（ii）揭示不同类别的非EDCs异源生物对下丘脑 - 垂体 - 性腺/甲状腺（HHG/Th）轴成熟的可能干扰。一种综合测试策略，考虑实验室啮齿动物内分泌/激素成熟的标志物和激素控制下的行为终点，可能会揭示神经内分泌稳态的细微扰动，而这些扰动往往未被发现。
