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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Developmental Toxicity Assays for Chemical Safety Screening and Systems Biology Data Generation
Published on: June 17, 2015
An overview on biological markers in reproductive and developmental toxicology: concepts, definitions and use in risk
1Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261.
Abstract:
Reproduction and development are complex couple-dependent processes. Risk assessment for these health outcomes requires the use of biomarkers to link exposures to disease. Biological markers of susceptibility, external dose, internal dose, biologically effective dose, early or late biological responses, altered reproductive or developmental function, and reproductive or developmental disease are introduced. Using these biomarkers it is possible to define a biologically based risk assessment methodology for reproductive and developmental toxicity. Risk assessment for reproductive toxicity requires definition of male and female fecundity, couple-specific factors, spontaneous abortion rate, and other factors. Using using sperm count as a biomarker for male fecundity, an example of a reproductive risk assessment using biomarkers is performed.
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