Atrazine and reproductive function: mode and mechanism of action studies

Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol. 2007 Apr;80(2):98-112. doi: 10.1002/bdrb.20110.

Abstract

Atrazine, a chlorotriazine herbicide, is used to control annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. In this review, we summarize our laboratory's work evaluating the neuroendocrine toxicity of atrazine (and related chlorotriazines) from an historic perspective. We provide the rationale for our work as we have endeavored to determine: 1) the underlying reproductive changes leading to the development of mammary gland tumors in the atrazine-exposed female rat; 2) the cascade of physiological events that are responsible for these changes (i.e., the mode of action for mammary tumors); 3) the potential cellular mechanisms involving adverse effects of atrazine; and 4) the range of reproductive alterations associated with this pesticide.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Suckling
  • Atrazine / toxicity*
  • Chlorine Compounds / toxicity
  • Estrogens / physiology
  • Female
  • Herbicides / toxicity
  • Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Hypothalamus / physiology
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / chemically induced
  • Ovulation / blood
  • Ovulation / drug effects
  • Pituitary Gland / drug effects
  • Pituitary Gland / physiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Maintenance / drug effects
  • Pregnancy, Animal / drug effects
  • Prolactin / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Reproduction / drug effects*
  • Sexual Maturation / drug effects

Substances

  • Chlorine Compounds
  • Estrogens
  • Herbicides
  • Prolactin
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Atrazine