Apoptosis and endocrine disrupters

This review highlights a current knowledge of the apoptosis induced by endo crine disrupters. Apoptosis is a morphological and biochemical description of a physiological cell death mechanism that is commonly associated with pr ogrammed events necessary for development of individuals and organs. Since apoptosis is essential for cells in development and in elimination of harmf ul cells, the adverse effects of endocrine disrupters on apoptosis would ca use serious damages to bioorganisms. The review describes tributyltin (TBT) , 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4, 5-T) as specific examples for effects of endocrine disrupters on apoptosis in cells, and estrogen and met allothionein (MT) for apoptosis-related factors.