Endocrine Disruption in Adolescence
EPA Grant Number: R827404Title: Endocrine Disruption in Adolescence
Investigators: Golub, Mari S. , Gershwin, M. Eric , Hendrickx, Andrew G.
Institution: University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 1999 through August 31, 2002 (Extended to August 31, 2003)
Project Amount: $670,805
RFA: Endocrine Disruptors (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Economics and Decision Sciences , Health , Safer Chemicals , Endocrine Disruptors
Description:
Endocrine disruption can interfere with the organizational role of steroid hormones at critical developmental periods. We propose to investigate the effects of the estrogenic agent methoxychlor (MXC) on adolescence by using a nonhuman primate model that adequately represents the prolonged and complex adolescent period of humans. Results will help determine whether MXC generally alters the onset and timecourse of adolescent maturation through actions at hypothalamic regulatory sites, or acts more directly and discretely on tissues that mature under the influence of estrogen such as bone, brain, and immune systems, as well as the reproductive system.
Approach:
MXC has been selected as a valuable model endocrine disrupting agent for our purposes because it is a currently used pesticide and potential environmental contaminant, and because it has been studied for its effects on puberty in rodents. The following endpoints will be evaluated:
- precocious puberty, abnormal reproductive tract morphology and histology, ovarian function
- changes in lymphocyte populations and cytotoxic activity
- maturational characteristics of brain electrical activity
- skeletal growth and mineralization
Expected Results:
This project is intended to respond to USEPA's interest in endocrine disruptor effects on reproductive, immune, and central nervous systems. It will provide information on adolescents as a sensitive population for endocrine disruption resulting in subfertility in adulthood, impairment in function of late maturing brain areas, enhanced susceptibility to pathogens encountered by young adults, and postmenopausal osteoporosis.