Abstract
Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology provides comprehensive coverage of historical and current knowledge in this specialized field of toxicology. It comprises 86 chapters divided into 15 sections, plus several elegant color plates at the end. This volume serves as a dense reference text for scientists in which each topic is presented with extensive background information and recent studies that are supported with full citations at the end of each chapter. The book is well indexed, which is particularly useful in a volume of this length and complexity.
The book begins with background information on basic reproductive anatomy and physiology and the pharmacokinetics of drug transfer during pregnancy and lactation. This general introduction is followed by a section on safety evaluation and toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals in which many approaches and model systems are described by experts in the field. Several subsequent sections provide historical and current information on a number of developmental toxicants, including nanoparticles and radiation; gases and solvents; smoking, alcohol, and drugs of addiction; food additives, metals, and pesticides; and phytotoxins and biotoxins. Each chapter is well organized, with an introduction, a full description of the characteristics, mechanisms where known, effects of each toxicant, and concluding remarks and future directions. Figures are used effectively and strategically to illustrate a number of topics.
A unique and relevant section entitled Special Topics provides up-to-date information on a variety of currently debated issues of reproductive and developmental toxicology, including stem cells, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, stress, cell signaling mechanisms, neuroinflammation and oxidative injury, disruption in cholesterol homeostasis, and cholinergic toxicity in the male reproductive system. This section is followed by one on endocrine disruptors, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, infertility, and teratogenicity, which covers screening systems, occupational exposure, and imaging modalities used to evaluate developmental toxicology.
An extensive coverage of toxicologic pathology of the reproductive system is followed by a section on the role of the placenta, discussed in the context of placental anatomy, transporters, toxicity, and pathology. As in the rest of the volume, these chapters provide introductory information and literature as background to understanding the importance of the subject at hand. The book concludes with an interesting section devoted to reproductive and developmental toxicity in domestic, wildlife, and aquatic species.
The contributors to Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology are an international group of almost 180 scientists, who represent academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, and governmental agencies. They provide an exceptional breadth of expertise in the wide range of topics covered in this extensive volume. This book will be most useful to the scientifically trained reader seeking a detailed understanding of the experimental background and currently studied topics of reproductive and developmental toxicology.