Sex dimorphic behaviors as markers of neuroendocrine disruption by environmental chemicals: the case of chlorpyrifos

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Venerosi A, Ricceri L, Tait S, Calamandrei G,

*/Sex dimorphic behaviors as markers of neuroendocrine disruption by

environmental chemicals: the case of chlorpyrifos/*

Neurotoxicology doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2012.08.009

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161813X12002057

The complexity of the neuroendocrine level of investigation requires the

assessment of behavioral patterns that extend beyond the reproductive

functions, which are age- and sex-specific in rodents, described by

defined clusters of behavioral items regulated by genetic, hormonal, and

epigenetic factors. The study of social behavior in laboratory rodents

reveals sex-dimorphic effects of environmental chemicals that may be

undetected either by a traditional neurotoxicological approach or

referring to the classical definition of endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Here we review data on the neurobehavioral effects of developmental

exposure to the non-persistent organophosphorus insecticide

chlorpyrifos, whose neurotoxic activity at low doses is currently a

matter of concern for children's health. In mice exposed to chlorpyrifos

in utero and/or in early development social/emotional responses are

differently affected in the two sexes in parallel with sex-dependent

interference on hypothalamic neuroendocrine pathways regulating social

behaviors (vasopressin, oxytocin, and steroid regulated systems).

Through the analysis of complex sex-dimorphic behavioral patterns we

show that neurotoxic and endocrine disrupting activities of CPF overlap.

*/This widely diffused organophosphorus pesticide might thus be

considered as a neuroendocrine disruptor possibly representing a risk

factor for sex-biased neurodevelopmental disorders in children/*.

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Chlorpyrifos

2.1 The case of CPF developmental exposure

2.2 CPF effects in female mice

2.3 CPF effects in male mice

2.4 CPF effects on neuroendocrine markers

2.5 CPF effects on 5HT systems

3. Rethinking CPF neurotoxicity: is CPF a neuro-EDC?

4. Conclusions

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