Module 3 Flashcards
What is meant by the term developmental toxicology?
adverse effects of xenobiotics that occur between conception and puberty
What are the three causes of developmental toxicology and their relative percentages for causing issues?
Genetic factors-25%
Environmental factors- 10-15%
Unknown multifactoral causes-60%
What are the first two principles of Wilson’s general principles of toxicology?
Susceptibility to teratogenesis depends on the genotype and the manner in which it interacts with its adverse environmental factors and depends on the developmental stage at which the time the exposure occurred
What is the first developmental stage and the subsequent effects of xenobiotics at this stage
Early developmental-fertilization to implantation
usually lower sensitivity at this stage, gastrulation occurs during this so malformations of eyes, brain and face are most common
What is the second developmental stage and the effects on xenobiotics on the fetus at this stage
Organogenesis (1st trimester)-VERY sensitive due to the divison, remodelling, differentiation occurring in this stage. Effects vary as key developmental events coincide with particular events
How is thalidomide an example of how organogenesis is most sensitive to teratogens?
The difference between amelia and phocomelia depended on which day the pregnant women were given the drugs
What is the third developmental stage and what are the effects on xenobiotics to the fetus in this stage?
Fetal period-this involves and histogenesis and functional maturation of tissues and organs so the effects are more on the function of the organs and less on the development of them. This would mean the CNS, immune system, and reproductive systems are most effected. Reduced birth weight/growth is most common effect of teratogens during this phase
What is principle three of Wilson’s general principles of teratogenicity?
Teratogenic agents act in specific ways on developing cells and tissues to initiate sequences of abnormal developmental events
What are examples of teratogenic mechanisms?
Gene mutations and chromosomal abnormalities, altered mitosis or apoptosis, altered nucleic acid integrity, reduced precursors or substrates for metabolism, reduced energy sources, osmotic imbalances, altered cell membranes and enzyme inhibition
What are the four most common pathogenetic response to teratogens?
altered apoptosis (increased or decreased), altered cell-cell interaction, reduced biosynthesis of endogenous compounds and inhibition of morphogenesis
What are the three sources of teratogenesis
direct effects, placenta and mother
Why is the placenta a source of teratogensis?
Is the site of gas exchange, nutrition and waste removal, produces hormones, bioactivate and detoxify xeno, target of xeno
How is the mother a potential source of teratogenicity?
disease, malnutrition, genetics, stress or ethanol/drug consumption
What is principle 4?
The access of adverse influences to developing tissues depends on the nature of the influence
How do agents gain access to developing tissues in embryo?
Same rules as ADME-highly lipophilic molecules can cross into placenta, maternal CO increases and plasma proteins decrease, biotransformation enzymes are less in placenta and fetal blood has slightly lower pH
What is principle 5?
The four manifestations of deviant development are death, malformation, growth retardation and functional deficit
At which stages of development do each manifestations occur most frequently?
death-embryonic
malformation-organogenesis
growth and functional deficit-2nd and 3rd trimester
What is principle 6?
Manifestations of deviant development increase in frequency and degree as dosage increases, from the no effect to totally lethal effect
What is the explanation on principle 6?
teratogenicity is considered a threshold phenomenon and depends on timing and dose of exposure
What is DES
Diethylstilbestrol-gave to women to prevent miscarriage, gave clear cell adenocarcinoma to daughters and granddaughters
What is FASD?
Developmental and structural disorder due to exposure to ethanol during pregnancy, 2-5% of children have FASD
How can tobacco smoke impact pregnancy?
abortion, sudden infant death syndrome, brain/behaviour disorders and lower birth weight
How do drugs of abuse impact offspring?
CNS and behaviour issues
What are common classes of drugs that can cause teratogenicity today?
retnoids and AEDs both cause structurtal and functional deficits