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Biomarkers of Developmental Neurotoxicity

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Risk Assessment of Prenatally-Induced Adverse Health Effects

Abstract

Neurotoxicity may be defined as any adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system by a biological, chemical or physical agent. Neurotoxic effects may be permanent or reversible, produced by neuropharmacological or neurodegenerative properties of a neurotoxicant, or the result of direct or indirect actions on the nervous system (ICON 1990). Adverse effects include: unwanted side effects, effects due to overdosing, functional or structural compensatory responses to restore normal function; or any alteration from baseline which diminishes the ability to survive, reproduce or adapt to the environment. Some relevant effects can be measured directly by neurochemical, neurophysiological, and neuropathological techniques, whereas others must be inferred from observed behavior. Insults to the nervous system may take various forms and are often quite subtle (Anger 1986). Neurotoxicity may occur at any time in the life cycle from gestation through senescence. The developing nervous system may be particularly vulnerable to damage by certain chemicals, whereas adults may be more susceptible to other agents than the conceptus (Ali et al. 1986a; Ali et al. 1986b; Annau and Eccles 1986; Ecobichon et al. 1990; Lipscomb et al. 1989; Paule et al. 1986; Pearson and Dietrich 1985; Silbergeld 1986; Matthews and Scallet 1991). While the adult nervous system may also be acutely susceptible to new insults, the effects of earlier injuries may be revealed as it ages (Weiss 1990). Psychoactive substances may also indirectly impair health by inducing behaviors that decrease safety in the performance of numerous activities.

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Authors
  1. Andrew C. Scallet
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  2. William Slikker Jr.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Toxikologie und Embryopharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Freie Universität Berlin, Garystrasse 5, W-1000, Berlin 33, Germany

    Diether Neubert

  2. Developmental Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Health Effects Research Laboratory (MD-71), Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA

    Robert J. Kavlock (Director) (Director)

  3. Institut für Anatomie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 15, W-1000, Berlin 33, Germany

    Hans-Joachim Merker

  4. Institut für Toxikologie und Embryopharmakologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Garystrasse 5, W-1000, Berlin 33, Germany

    Jane Klein

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Scallet, A.C., Slikker, W. (1992). Biomarkers of Developmental Neurotoxicity. In: Neubert, D., Kavlock, R.J., Merker, HJ., Klein, J. (eds) Risk Assessment of Prenatally-Induced Adverse Health Effects. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77753-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77753-0_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-77755-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-77753-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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