Foetal growth and development is extremely dependent on placenta functionality, as the major role of the placenta is to exchange oxygen, nutrients, hormones and waste products between the mother and the foetus. In addition, the placenta has an important role in hormone synthesis and metabolism of compounds that regulate and maintain pregnancy (Ahokas and Anderson, 1987). The placenta develops f...

BACKGROUND Trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) are regulated disinfection by-products (DBPs); their joint reproductive toxicity in drinking water is unknown. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate a drinking water mixture of the four regulated THMs and five regulated HAAs in a multigenerational reproductive toxicity bioassay. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed (parental, F1, an...

BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of small RNAs that regulate gene expression. There are over 700 miRs encoded in the mouse genome and modulate most of the cellular pathways and functions by controlling gene expression. However, there is not much known about the pathophysiological role of miRs. TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), an environmental contaminant is well known to induc...

BACKGROUND Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a non-persistent organophosphate (OP) largely used as pesticide. Studies from animal models indicate that CPF is a developmental neurotoxicant able to target immature central nervous system at dose levels well below the threshold of systemic toxicity. So far, few data are available on the potential short- and long-term adverse effects in children deriving from l...

There is a worldwide concern on adverse health effects of dietary exposure to acrylamide (AA) due its presence in commonly consumed foods. AA formed when carbohydrate rich foods containing asparagine and reducing sugars are prepared at high temperatures low moisture conditions. Upon oral intake, rapidly absorbed distributed all organs. known human neurotoxicant that can reach the developing foe...

introduction: cloacal malformation is an extremely rare fetal pathological condition but an important anomaly that presents as a variety of defects. it predominantly affects females, with prevalence of 1 in 50,000 births. prenatal ultrasonography usually showed oligohydramnios and the fetus having a large cystic mass in the lower abdomen with a single septum, bilateral hydronephrosis, ambiguous...

Domoic acid (DomA) is a naturally occurring shellfish toxin that can induce brain damage in mammalians. Neonates have shown increased sensitivity to DomA-induced toxicity, and prenatal exposure has been associated with e.g. decreased brain GABA levels, and increased glutamate levels. Here, we evaluated DomA-induced toxicity in immature and mature primary cultures of neurons and glial cells from...

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that exists ubiquitously in the environment, and affects global health problems due to its carcinogenicity. In most populations, the main source of arsenic exposure is the drinking water. In drinking water, chronic exposure to arsenic is associated with increased risks of various cancers including those of skin, lung, bladder, and liver, as well as numerous other no...

Background: Prenatal diagnosis for Fetal Chromosomal anomalies currently relies on assessment of risk followed by a combination of biochemical and nuchal translucency. Trisomy 21 is the most common trisomy that is associated with intellectual disability. Pregnant women who receive a prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 currently have the option of continuing or terminating their pregnancy, but no f...

OPPT has been assessing perfluor,inated compounds since 1999. This interest was prompted by reports submitted to the agency describing the toxic properties and widespread presence in the environment, including in human populations, of some of these chemicals. Initial efforts focused on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and the assessment of ecological and human health hazards was recently publi...