Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Introduction to “Screening for Endocrine Activity—Experiences with the US EPA's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program and Future Considerations”
(Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology)
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - December 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Sue Marty Tags: Introduction Source Type: research

Effect of NSAIDs and Diuretics on Nephrogenesis in an Ex Vivo Embryogenic Kidney Model
The kidney is one of the key organs in clearing foreign compounds. The effects of drugs on the developing kidney are relatively unknown. We studied the direct effect of furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, ibuprofen, and indomethacin on kidney development in an ex vivo embryonic kidney model. At embryonic day 13, metanephroi were dissected from mice and cultured in control media or media supplemented with various clinically relevant concentrations of drugs. The ureteric tree was visualized by whole‐mount staining and branching was evaluated by counting. Additionally, gene expression levels of Wt1, Sox9, Bmp7, Fgf8, and Gdnf ...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - October 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Ruud RG Bueters, Annelies Klaasen, Lambertus P Heuvel, Michiel F Schreuder Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Challenges and Approaches to Conducting and Interpreting the Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay and the Fish Short‐Term Reproduction Assay
The amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA) and the fish short‐term reproduction assay (FSTRA) are screening assays designed to detect potential endocrine activity of a test substance. These assays are included in a battery of assays in Tier 1 of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program. Based on our laboratory's experience with these two assays, we have noted several challenges in the conduct and interpretation of the AMA and FSTRA, including, but not limited to, diseased/parasitized test organisms, failure to meet some guideline performance criteria, and issues selecting and maintaining ...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - October 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Katherine Kemler Coady, Christine Marie Lehman, Rebecca J Currie, Troy Alan Marino Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Fluctuating Asymmetry as Risk Marker for Stress and Structural Defects in a Toxicologic Experiment
Fluctuating asymmetry (the directionally random asymmetry of bilateral structures, FA) is commonly used as a measure of developmental instability, and may increase with stress. As several studies reported a relation between FA and developmental abnormalities, we investigate whether FA could be an additional perhaps more sensitive marker of developmental toxicity. The aim of this work is analyzing patterns of FA in multiple traits in a large dataset of rabbit fetuses, which were prenatally exposed to a toxic compound and sacrificed just before natural delivery. Gravid females were exposed to three doses of this compound, in...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - August 26, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Matteo Breno, Jessica Bots, Luc Schaepdrijver, Stefan Dongen Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Teratology Study of Amide Derivatives of Branched Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids with 4‐Aminobenzensulfonamide in NMRI Mice
CONCLUSIONSIn addition to exerting more potent preclinical antiepileptic activity, teratology comparison indicates that aminobenzensulfonamide analogs are generally more weakly teratogenic than VPA. (Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology)
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - August 26, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Yuko Onishi, Akinobu Okada, Hiroko Noyori, Ai Okamura, Naama Hen, Boris Yagen, Meir Bialer, Michio Fujiwara Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Evaluation of Hydroxyatrazine in the Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Program's Male and Female Pubertal Protocols
Two critical components of the validation of any in vivo screening assay are to demonstrate sensitivity and specificity. Although the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program's Tier 1 Male and Female Pubertal Protocols have been shown to be sensitive assays for the detection of weak endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), there are concerns that the assays lack specificity for EDC effects when a chemical induces systemic toxicity. A lack of specificity, or the ability to correctly identify an inactive or “negative” chemical, would increase the probability of identifying false positives. Here, we orally exposed rats to hydr...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - August 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Tammy E. Stoker, Daniel R. Hallinger, John C. Seely, Leah M. Zorrilla Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

The Use and Acceptance of Other Scientifically Relevant Information (OSRI) in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) currently relies on an initial screening battery (Tier 1) consisting of five in vitro and six in vivo assays to evaluate a chemical's potential to interact with the endocrine system. Chemical companies may request test waivers based on Other Scientifically Relevant Information (OSRI) that is functionally equivalent to data gathered in the screening battery or that provides information on a potential endocrine effect. Respondents for 47 of the first 67 chemicals evaluated in the EDSP submitted OSRI in lieu of some or all Tier 1 tests...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - August 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Patricia L. Bishop, Catherine E. Willett Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

KRN633, an Inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase, Induces Intrauterine Growth Restriction in Mice
In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of KRN633 on the vasculatures of organs in mother mice and their newborn pups by immunohistochemical analysis. Pregnant mice were treated daily with KRN633 (5 mg/kg) either from embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) to E17.5 or from E13.5 to the day of delivery. The weights of the pups of KRN633‐treated mice were lower than those of the pups of vehicle‐treated mothers. However, no significant difference in body weight was observed between the vehicle‐ and KRN633‐treated mice. The vascular development in the organs (the pancreas, kidney, and intestine) and intestinal lymphatic for...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - June 18, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Naomichi Abe, Tsutomu Nakahara, Akane Morita, Yoshiko Wada, Asami Mori, Kenji Sakamoto, Tohru Nagamitsu, Kunio Ishii Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Establishment and Assessment of a New Human Embryonic Stem Cell‐Based Biomarker Assay for Developmental Toxicity Screening
In this study, metabolomic data from hES cell culture media were used to assess potential biomarkers for development of a rapid in vitro teratogenicity assay. hES cells were treated with pharmaceuticals of known human teratogenicity at a concentration equivalent to their published human peak therapeutic plasma concentration. Two metabolite biomarkers (ornithine and cystine) were identified as indicators of developmental toxicity. A targeted exposure‐based biomarker assay using these metabolites, along with a cytotoxicity endpoint, was then developed using a 9‐point dose–response curve. The predictivity of the new ass...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - June 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Jessica A. Palmer, Alan M. Smith, Laura A. Egnash, Kevin R. Conard, Paul R. West, Robert E. Burrier, Elizabeth L.R. Donley, Fred R. Kirchner Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Effects of Maternal Exposure to Imazalil on Behavioral Development in F1‐Generation Mice
Female mice were exposed maternally to imazalil through diet to provide levels of 0 (control), 0.0006, 0.0018, and 0.0054% during gestation and lactation periods, and selected reproductive and neurobehavioral parameters were measured in F1 generation. There was no adverse effect of imazalil on litter size, litter weight, or sex ratio at birth. With respect to behavioral developmental parameters, surface righting on postnatal day 4 of male offspring was delayed significantly in a dose‐related manner (p < 0.05). Regarding exploratory behavior in the F1 generation, movement time was significantly long (p = 0.0206) in the...
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - June 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Toyohito Tanaka, Akio Ogata, Akiko Inomata, Dai Nakae Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Methionine Pretreatment Enhances the Effects of Valproate on Axial Development in a CD1 Mouse Model
CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that Met pretreatment enhances the effects of VPA in deregulating the epigenetic control of gene expression in somites, and by consequence, induces more extended dysmorphogenic effects along the axial axis. (Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology)
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - June 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Francesca Di Renzo, Erminio Giavini, Elena Menegola Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Disruption of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor 2 Pathway in Nitrofen‐Induced Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
CONCLUSIONThe observed disruption of the BMPR2 signaling pathway may lead to extensive vascular remodeling and contribute to PH in the nitrofen‐induced CDH model. BMPR2 may therefore represent a potential target for the treatment of PH in CDH. (Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology)
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - June 1, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Jan‐Hendrik Gosemann, Florian Friedmacher, Naho Fujiwara, Luis A. J. Alvarez, Nicolae Corcionivoschi, Prem Puri Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Activin‐A in Diabetes‐Induced Cardiac Malformations in Embryos
CONCLUSIONSMaternal diabetes suppresses the expression of inhibin βA protein, as well as the activation of Smad2 and Smad3. Activin‐A rescues cell proliferation in the myocardium and migration of the endocardial cells suppressed by hyperglycemia. The activin‐Smad2/3 signaling system appears to play a role in cardiac malformation in diabetic embryopathy. (Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology)
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - May 28, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Zhiyong Zhao Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Corrigendum
(Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology)
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - May 28, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Tags: Erratum Source Type: research

Emodin Prevents Ethanol‐Induced Developmental Anomalies in Cultured Mouse Fetus through Multiple Activities
CONCLUSIONSThis study revealed that cotreatment with emodin significantly prevented teratogenesis induced by ethanol, not only by modulating hypoxia and antioxidant enzymes, but also by attenuating the enhanced levels of TNF‐α and caspase 3 in cultured embryos. Therefore, emodin may be an effective preventive agent for ethanol‐induced teratogenesis. (Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology)
Source: Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology - May 21, 2013 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Jung‐Min Yon, Chunmei Lin, Ki‐Wan Oh, Hong‐Seok Baek, Beom Jun Lee, Young Won Yun, Sang‐Yoon Nam Tags: Research Article Source Type: research