Biologic Markers in Reproductive Toxicology

Biologic markers are indicators that can tell us when environmental factors have caused a change at the cellular or biochemical level. This book examines the potential of these markers in environmental health studies, and shows the benefits to be gained from their use in reproductive and neurodevelopmental research.

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Does exposure to environmental toxicants inhibit our ability to have healthy children who develop normally? Biologic markers?indicators that can tell us when environmental factors have caused a change at the cellular or biochemical level that might affect reproductive ability?are a promising tool for research aimed at answering that important question. Biologic Markers in Reproductive Toxicology examines the potential of these markers in environmental health studies; clarifies definitions, underlying concepts, and possible applications; and shows the benefits to be gained from their use in reproductive and neurodevelopmental research.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1. Report of the Oversight Committee
I. Biologic Markers in Male Reproductive and Gametic Genetic
Toxicology
2. Introduction
3. Clinical Evaluation of Male Infertility
4. Biologic Markers of Testicular Function
5. Biologic Markers of Epididymal Structure and Function
6. Biologic Markers of Accessory Sex Organ Structure and Function
7. Biologic Markers of Human Male Reproductive Health and
Physiologic Damage
8. Assessing Transmitted Mutations in Mice
9. Markers for Measuring Germinal Genetic Toxicity and Heritable
Mutations in People
10. Conclusions and Recommendations
II. Biologic Markers in Female Reproductive Toxicology
11. Introduction
12. Biologic Markers of Genetic Damage in Females
13. Biologic Markers of Reproductive Development and Aging
14. Biologic Markers of Nonconceptive Menstrual Cycles
15. Developing Assays of Biologic Markers for Epidemiologic
Studies: Experience with a Marker of Pregnancy and Early Loss
16. Conclusions and Recommendations
III. Biologic Markers of Toxicity during Pregnancy
17. Introduction
18. Molecular Biology: Developing DNA Markers of Genotoxic Effects
19. Reproductive Immunology: Biologic Markers of Compromised
Pregnancies
20. Cell Biology: Identifying Biologic Markers Expressed during
Early Pregnancy
21. Physiologic Assessment of Fetal Compromise
22. Biologic Markers of Exposure during Pregnancy: Pharmacokinetic
Assessments
23. Conclusions and Recommendations
IV. Biologic Markers in Neurodevelopmental Toxicology
24. Introduction
25. Developmental Neurobiology of the Central Nervous System
26. Morphologic, Neurochemical, and Behavioral Responses to Toxic
Agents
27. Methodologic Issues of Extrapolation from Animal Studies to
Human Toxicant Exposure
28. Lead as a Paradigm for the Study of Neurodevelopmental
Toxicology
29. Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix: Assessing the Validity of Biologic Markers:
Alpha-Fetoprotein
References
Biographies
Index