Highlighting the latest advances in genetics and biochemistry, the completely revised Third Edition of Developmental Toxicology in the Target Organ Toxicology Series reviews the field from basic science, clinical, epidemiological and regulatory perspectives. Contributions from top scientists in the field bring together developments in molecular embryology and cell biology as they apply to problems in developmental toxicology. It covers testing of pharmaceutical and environmental agents and interpretation of developmental toxicology data, highlighting mathematical and statistical techniques. This edition is edited by Deborah Hansen from FDA and Barbara Abbott from EPA and is published by Informa Healthcare.
Potential mechanisms of developmental toxicants that are covered in this edition include apoptosis, alterations in signal transduction pathways, as well as effects on nutrition and epistasis. New techniques being used to address mechanistic questions include targeted gene disruption, cell culture methods such as whole embryo culture and the use of embryonic stem cells and genomic approaches. Zebrafish are being investigated as an alternative to mammalian animal models in an effort to decrease the use of higher animal models as well as to shorten the time involved in preclinical testing. Progress has also been made on the development of physiologically based pharmacokinetic models as a way to extrapolate across species. Interpretation of large amounts of information, especially from newer high-throughput techniques has required new approaches to analyzing and compiling the information leading to the development of bioinformatic systems and the new field of computational toxicology. How this information can be used in assessing potential risk to humans, as well as to specific subpopulations of humans are covered in additional chapters. Finally methods used to identify developmental toxicants in humans are discussed.
Prevention of birth defects is the goal of all developmental toxicologists. The best way to
tackle this important task is an approach in which animal research and information from clinical settings are taken together in an effort to identify which compounds may pose a risk as well as whether certain subpopulations may have an increased risk. The first two editions of Developmental Toxicology focused on this integrated approach for characterizing outcome, and the editors have tried to maintain that approach in this edition. •
Possible Funding Opportunity!
The EPA’s National Center for Environmental Research announces a possible funding opportunity. More information can be found at their website:
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