Communication Disruption in the Nervous System
摘要
This chapter explores the impact of endocrine disruptors and environmental exposures on the communication pathways within the nervous system. It delves into how these disruptions can lead to neurological disorders and dysfunction, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the exposome and its effects on neural communication. It focuses specifically on neuroendocrine disruptors (NEDs) rather than all neurotoxicants due to the distinct and critical role that NEDs play in interfering with hormonal signaling within the nervous system. While neurotoxicants broadly encompass chemicals that damage neural tissue, neuroendocrine disruptors uniquely impact the delicate balance of the endocrine system, which regulates a variety of physiological processes through hormone signaling. These disruptors can alter neurodevelopment, behavior, and even metabolism by interfering with hormone receptors, synthesis, and signaling pathways. The chapter emphasizes this specific category of chemicals because they pose a particular risk to both nervous system communication and overall homeostasis, affecting not just neurons but the entire neuroendocrine axis. This narrow focus allows for a deeper exploration of how these disruptors compromise communication between the nervous and endocrine systems, which has widespread implications for health, particularly in vulnerable populations such as developing children and pregnant women.