Research strategies for behavioral teratology studies.

Abstract

Several compelling aruguments have been advanced in support of expanding the use of "behavioral teratology" evaluations as routine components of toxicologic screening procedures. As a basis for development of effective behavioral teratology screening approaches, a conceptual framework is presented which interrelates: (1) changes in relative functional brain capacity with age, (2) possible times and durations of exposures to environmental insults, and (3) various types of toxicity testing procedures carried out at appropriate time points in relation to different exposure period. Within the context, several research strategies for behavioral teratology studies are concisely posed and evaluated. These include: (1) clinical hypothesis testing, where particular effect(s) of a given agent are evaluated based on hypotheses derived from clinical or epidemiological observations; (2) comprehensive screening approaches, where multifaceted, long-term longitudinal neurobehavioral evaluations are employed to assess whether any of a large number of possible deletarious effects are exerted by an agent and at what threshold exposure levels; (3) alternative screening heuristics, by which adequate assessments of neurobehavioral toxicity of various agents may be accomplished without completion of more exhaustive, but also more expensive and time-consuming comprehensive screening protocols.