Biologic Markers in Reproductive Toxicology

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.

• 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