[What about the effects of endocrine disruptors on neurodevelopment?]

WHAT ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS ON NEURODEVELOPMENT? Development of the central nervous system (CNS) relies on many endogenous factors. Thyroid hormones and sex steroid hormones are among the most studied endocrine systems for their regulation of neural functions, since early embryonic stages of development. Environmental exposure to low doses of chemicals is largely documented. The hypothesis that exposure to some of these molecules with endocrine disrupting activity, likely interfering with the production of these hormones and/or their underlying neural mechanisms is therefore plausible and supported by numerous studies. After having recalled the formation of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axes, and the importance of thyroid and sexual hormones in neurodevelopment, we will present two examples of substances (BPA, PCBs) and their effects on brain development.