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[Integrative assessment of the developmental pharmacology and developmental toxicology, with special reference to the
1Department of Pharmacology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Increasing numbers of neurotoxins or therapeutic agents that have specific target cells or receptors can be used to assess the developmental correlation between the structure and function of various organs including the brain. Patients with chronic diseases are now able to maintain their social activities but still must be medicated for a long period of their life. This might increase the potential hazard of prenatal drug exposure in the progeny. Functional teratology is quite a new concept in neuroscience. Recent observations of our laboratory and those of others suggest that the sensitive period for functional teratology might encompass the whole stage of fetal life in animals and humans. The shortage of precise information on the developmental integration of the structure and function of the neurons with different properties is a problem to be solved for the further progress of developmental pharmacology and toxicology. Single exposures to drugs at a different stage during the gestational period of rats or mice might provide more useful information on the relationship between the lesioned area and related functional disorders manifested postnatally. This paper reviews recent advances in developmental neuropharmacology and functional neuroteratology including beneficial points of the short-term exposures to drugs.
Insights
Prenatal drug exposure can impact fetal development, affecting brain structure and function. This research explores functional teratology, examining how drug exposure during gestation influences neurodevelopment and potential long-term disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Therapeutic agents and neurotoxins offer insights into brain development.
- Chronic disease management necessitates long-term medication, increasing prenatal drug exposure risks.
- Functional teratology is an emerging field investigating neurodevelopmental impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in developmental neuropharmacology and functional neuroteratology.
- To highlight the sensitive period for functional teratology, potentially spanning entire fetal life.
- To address the need for precise information on neuronal structure-function integration.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research in developmental neuropharmacology and functional neuroteratology.
- Analysis of studies on the effects of single drug exposures at different gestational stages in animal models (rats, mice).
- Examination of the correlation between lesioned areas and postnatal functional disorders.
Main Results:
- The sensitive period for functional teratology may extend throughout fetal development.
- Single drug exposures during gestation can reveal relationships between brain damage and functional deficits.
- Short-term drug exposures offer valuable data for understanding developmental neurotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the developmental integration of neuronal structure and function is crucial for advancing developmental pharmacology and toxicology.
- Functional teratology provides a framework for assessing the impact of prenatal exposures.
- Further research using animal models can elucidate the long-term consequences of prenatal drug exposure on neurodevelopment.