Gk. Lemasters et al., Workshop to identify critical windows of exposure for children's health: Reproductive health in children and adolescents work group summary, ENVIR H PER, 108, 2000, pp. 505-509
This work group report addresses the central question: What are the critica
l windows during development (preconception through puberty) when exposure
to xenobiotics may have the greatest adverse impact on subsequent reproduct
ive health? The reproductive system develops in stages, with sex-specific o
rganogenesis occurring prenatally and further maturational events occurring
in the perinatal period and at puberty. Complex endocrine signals as well
as other regulatory factors (genetics, growth factors) are involved at all
stages. Evidence from animal models and human studies indicates that many s
pecific events can be perturbed by a variety of toxicants, with endocrine-m
ediated mechanisms being the more widely studied. Prioritized research need
s include basic studies on the cellular-molecular and endocrine regulation
of sexual differentiation and development; increased efforts regarding pote
ntial adverse effects on development in females, including breast developme
nt; expanded animal studies on different classes of chemicals, comparing re
sponses during development (prenatal and postnatal) with responses in adult
s; and, more extensive explorations regarding the reproductive biology and
toxicology of puberty in humans.