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Critical windows of exposure for children's health: the reproductive system in animals and humans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pryor, JL; Hughes, C; Foster, W; Hales, BF; Robaire, B
Published in: Environ Health Perspect
June 2000

Drugs and environmental chemicals can adversely affect the reproductive system. Currently, available data indicate that the consequences of exposure depend on the nature of the chemical, its target, and the timing of exposure relative to critical windows in development of the reproductive system. The reproductive system is designed to produce gametes in far greater excess than would seem to be necessary for the survival of species. Ten to hundreds of millions of spermatozoa are generated daily by most adult male mammals, yet very few of these germ cells succeed in transmitting their genetic material to the next generation. Although the number of oocytes produced in mammalian females is more limited, and their production occurs only during fetal life, most ovaries contain several orders of magnitude more oocytes than ever will be fertilized. Toxicant exposures may affect critical events in the development of the reproductive system, ranging from early primordial germ cell determination to gonadal differentiation, gametogenesis, external genitalia, or signaling events regulating sexual behavior. Although there are differences between the human reproductive system and that of the usual animal models, such models have been extremely useful in assessing risks for key human reproductive and developmental processes. The objectives for future studies should include the elucidation of the specific cellular and molecular targets of known toxicants; the design of a systematic approach to the identification of reproductive toxicants; and the development of sensitive, specific, and predictive animal models, minimally invasive surrogate markers, or in vitro tests to assess reproductive system function during embryonic, postnatal, and adult life.

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Published In

Environ Health Perspect

DOI

ISSN

0091-6765

Publication Date

June 2000

Volume

108 Suppl 3

Issue

Suppl 3

Start / End Page

491 / 503

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Xenobiotics
  • Urogenital System
  • Toxicology
  • Spermatogenesis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Pregnancy
  • Oogenesis
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Pryor, J. L., Hughes, C., Foster, W., Hales, B. F., & Robaire, B. (2000). Critical windows of exposure for children's health: the reproductive system in animals and humans. Environ Health Perspect, 108 Suppl 3(Suppl 3), 491–503. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.00108s3491
Pryor, J. L., C. Hughes, W. Foster, B. F. Hales, and B. Robaire. “Critical windows of exposure for children's health: the reproductive system in animals and humans.Environ Health Perspect 108 Suppl 3, no. Suppl 3 (June 2000): 491–503. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.00108s3491.
Pryor JL, Hughes C, Foster W, Hales BF, Robaire B. Critical windows of exposure for children's health: the reproductive system in animals and humans. Environ Health Perspect. 2000 Jun;108 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):491–503.
Pryor, J. L., et al. “Critical windows of exposure for children's health: the reproductive system in animals and humans.Environ Health Perspect, vol. 108 Suppl 3, no. Suppl 3, June 2000, pp. 491–503. Pubmed, doi:10.1289/ehp.00108s3491.
Pryor JL, Hughes C, Foster W, Hales BF, Robaire B. Critical windows of exposure for children's health: the reproductive system in animals and humans. Environ Health Perspect. 2000 Jun;108 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):491–503.

Published In

Environ Health Perspect

DOI

ISSN

0091-6765

Publication Date

June 2000

Volume

108 Suppl 3

Issue

Suppl 3

Start / End Page

491 / 503

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Xenobiotics
  • Urogenital System
  • Toxicology
  • Spermatogenesis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Pregnancy
  • Oogenesis
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Humans