Cited by 82Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsSexual Differentiation and DisordersToxic Organic Pollutants Impact

Early developmental actions of endocrine disruptors on the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex

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Parent, Anne-Simone, Naveau, Elise, Gerard, Arlette, Bourguignon, Jean-Pierre, Westbrook, Gary L.·2011·Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B

Abstract

Sex steroids and thyroid hormones play a key role in the development of the central nervous system. The critical role of these hormonal systems may explain the sensitivity of the hypothalamus, the cerebral cortex, and the hippocampus to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC). This review examines the evidence for endocrine disruption of glial-neuronal functions in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. Focus was placed on two well-studied EDC, the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). DDT is involved in neuroendocrine disruption of the reproductive axis, whereas polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) interact with both the thyroid hormone- and sex steroid-dependent systems and disturb the neuroendocrine control of reproduction and development of hippocampus and cortex. These results highlight the impact of EDC on the developing nervous system and the need for more research in this area.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/10937404.2011.578556

Cites

124 of 124 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • PCBs accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals and humans and bioaccumulate in the food chain, leading to continuous exposure.

    “They accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals and humans and bioaccumulate in the food chain, leading to continuous exposure (Parent et al., 2011; Schug et al., 2015; Walker and Gore, 2017).”

    From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Parent et al., 2011

    The Introduction (page unavailable) says PCBs have a long half-life and remain ubiquitous environmental contaminants found at high concentrations in humans and animals, supporting persistent exposure. It does not say they accumulate specifically in fatty tissue or bioaccumulate through the food chain; searches for those terms found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • PCBs and dioxins interfere with hormonal signaling pathways and impair synaptic plasticity.

    “PCBs and dioxins interfere with hormonal signaling pathways and thus also impair synaptic plasticity (Parent et al., 2011).”

    From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Parent et al., 2011

    The Cerebral cortex section reports that PCBs alter thyroid-hormone signaling and interfere with dendritic plasticity and long-term potentiation. It does not establish that the plasticity effects result from hormonal interference; it also discusses possible direct neuronal effects. The passages found do not report corresponding synaptic-plasticity effects for dioxins (no page numbers supplied). (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Coplanar PCB congeners such as CB-77 and dioxins such as TCDD bind AhR with high affinity, leading to dysregulated gene expression and increased neuronal apoptosis.

    “Coplanar PCB congeners such as CB-77 and dioxins such as TCDD bind AhR with high affinity, leading to dysregulated gene expression and increased neuronal apoptosis (Gilbert and Crofton, 1999; Parent et al., 2011).”

    From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Parent et al., 2011

    The Introduction says coplanar PCBs bind AhR, and the Cerebral cortex section reports apoptosis in neuronal cultures and says coplanar PCBs seem to act through AhR to induce cell death. Our copy does not establish high-affinity binding, dysregulated gene expression, or this chain of effects specifically for CB-77 and TCDD. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Astrocytes play an essential role in actin cytoskeleton organization and are indispensable for neuronal migration and synapse maturation.

    “Astrocytes play an essential role in actin cytoskeleton organization and are therefore indispensable for neuronal migration and synapse maturation (Parent et al., 2011).”

    From Environmental endocrine disruptors at the synapse: mechanisms linking chemical exposure to cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (2026) · cites this paper as Parent et al., 2011

    In the Cerebral cortex section (page unavailable), the paper says thyroid hormones regulate the actin cytoskeleton in astrocytes, affecting laminin deposition needed for neuronal migration. It does not say astrocytes organize the actin cytoskeleton or that they are indispensable for synapse maturation; its discussion of synaptogenesis elsewhere concerns thyroid hormones, not this astrocyte mechanism. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • DES was prescribed to pregnant women in the mid-20th century to prevent miscarriages.

    “A well-known example of an estrogenic EDC is diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was prescribed to pregnant women in the mid-20th century to prevent miscarriages (Parent et al., 2011; Soyer-Gobillard et al., 2025).”

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

1 of the 125 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. Baas D Bourbeau D Sarlieve LL Ittel ME Dussault JH Puymirat J 1997 Oligodendrocyte maturation and progenitor cell proliferation are independently regulated by thyroid hormone Glia 19 324 332 9097076
  2. Bastomsky CH 1974 Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls: lessons from the Inuit cohort study Environment Health Perspectives 111 1253 1258 PMC1241583 12842782
  3. DeLange F Braverman LE Utiger RD 2000 Endemic cretinism The thyroid Philadelphia Lippincott 756 767
  4. Gorski RA 1968 Influence of age on a paranatal administration oo a low dose of androgen Endocrionology 82 1001 1004 5690106
  5. Matagne V Rasier G Lebrethon MC Gérard A Bourguignon JP 2004 Estradiol stimulation of pulsatile GnRH secretion in vitro: correlation with perinatal exposure to sex steroids and induction of sexual precocity in vivo Endocrinology 145 2775 2783 14988382

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Authors
Parent, A.-S., Naveau, E., Gerard, A., Bourguignon, J.-P., & Westbrook, G. L.
Affiliations
  • University of Liège (BE)
  • Vollum Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Parent, Anne-Simone
Venue
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B
Published
2011-07
Volume
14
Issue
5-7
Pages
328-345
ISSN
  • 1093-7404 (ISSN-L)
  • 1521-6950
OpenAlex
W2075047454
Cited by
82
References
125
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
FWCI
6.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Open Repository and Bibliography (University of Liège) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH046613)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (P30NS061800)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
Keywords
endocrine disruptors, brain development, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, sex steroids, thyroid hormones, DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls, neuroendocrine disruption, reproductive axis, developmental neurotoxicity
MeSH terms
Animals, Cerebral Cortex, DDT, Hippocampus, Humans, Hypothalamus, Neurosecretory Systems, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Reproduction, Endocrine Disruptors

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