Navigation Links
Prenatal exposure to marine toxin causes lasting damage

Duke University Medical Center researchers have found that the naturally occurring marine toxin domoic acid can cause subtle but lasting cognitive damage in rats exposed to the chemical before birth. Humans can become poisoned by the potentially lethal, algal toxin after eating contaminated shellfish.

The researchers saw behavioral effects of the toxin in animals after prenatal exposure to domoic acid levels below those generally deemed safe for adults, said Edward Levin, Ph.D. Those effects -- including an increased susceptibility to disruptions of memory -- persisted into adulthood, he said.

The findings in rats, therefore, imply that the toxin might negatively affect unborn children at levels that do not cause symptoms in expectant mothers, said Levin. While the researchers note that eating seafood offers significant health benefits, they said their findings suggest that the current threshold of toxin at which affected fisheries are closed should perhaps be lowered. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) set the current limit based on levels safe for adults, Levin said.

"A single administration of domoic acid to pregnant rats had a lasting affect on the performance of their offspring as adults," Levin said. "The consequences are life-long.

"The findings suggest we may need to re-evaluate monitoring of waters, shellfish and fish to make sure that the most sensitive parts of the human population are protected from toxic exposure to domoic acid," he continued.

The researchers reported their findings in a forthcoming special issue dedicated to research on marine toxins of Neurotoxicology and Teratology.

In 1987, more than 100 people in Canada became ill after eating cultured mussels contaminated with domoic acid. The incident led to three deaths and memory loss in several others.

First detected in the U.S. on the Washington coast in 1991, domoic acid is produced by microscopic algae, specifically the diatom
'"/>

Source:Duke University Medical Center


Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Prenatal exposure to famine increases risk of schizophrenia
2. Prenatal nicotine exposure reduces breathing response of newborns...
3. Prenatal cocaines lasting cellular effects
4. Any exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy is risky
5. Scalpel-free surgery could reduce risk of HIV and hepatitis exposure for health care workers
6. Experimental vaccine protects nonhuman primates when given after exposure to Marburg virus
7. Nicotine exposure during development leads to hearing problems
8. Bird brains shrink from exposure to contaminants
9. Vaccine combined with short-term postexposure antibiotics protects monkeys from inhalational anthrax
10. Solvent exposure linked to birth defects in babies of male painters
11. Early exposure to indoor fungus molecules may protect infants against future allergies
Post Your Comments:
(Date:7/24/2008)...ers at The Pennsylvania State University College o...that the efficacy of imiquimod, a clinically impor...l and antitumor activity, is dependent on the Opio...r its action. This discovery, reported in the Aug... , provides new insights into a widely used drug t...
(Date:7/24/2008)...E, Mass. -- Scientists at Harvard University and t...enetic evolution is strongly shaped by genes, effo...ction. , Their study also suggests that the cost...lformed proteins themselves, rather than the loss ...ld up in long-lived cells, like neurons, and cause...
(Date:7/24/2008)...LIS / ST. PAUL (July 24, 2008) A multi-institutio...he University of Minnesota Medical School, have de...edicine. The robust method will allow researchers ...manipulate DNA sequences for inactivation or repai...an Voytas, Ph.D., director of the Arnold and Mabel...
(Date:7/24/2008)...s from Novel Structure Proteins (NSP), a new famil... Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medic...Technology, could be involved in apoptosis or prog...years ago by Nianli Sang, then a doctoral student ...t Thomas Jefferson University and the Cardeza Foun...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Imiquimod, an immune response modifier, is dependent on the OGF-OGFr signaling pathway 2Various species' genes evolve to minimize protein production errors 2Various species' genes evolve to minimize protein production errors 3Consortium develops new method to manipulate genetic material 2Novel structure proteins could play a role in apoptosis 2Viral Infections Tied to Pregnancy Complications 12611 1Viral Infections Tied to Pregnancy Complications 12611 2Test can reduce recurrence of breast cancer 12609 1Test can reduce recurrence of breast cancer 12609 2Test can reduce recurrence of breast cancer 12609 3Statement by Dr Edward Jones Chairman of Kidney Care Partners in Response to CMS Payment Bundling Report 12607 1Statement by Dr Edward Jones Chairman of Kidney Care Partners in Response to CMS Payment Bundling Report 12607 2Statement by Dr Edward Jones Chairman of Kidney Care Partners in Response to CMS Payment Bundling Report 12607 3Designers Young Cousin Inspiration Behind Colorful School and Office Supplies That Raise Awareness for Leukemia 12605 1Designers Young Cousin Inspiration Behind Colorful School and Office Supplies That Raise Awareness for Leukemia 12605 2Designers Young Cousin Inspiration Behind Colorful School and Office Supplies That Raise Awareness for Leukemia 12605 3Designers Young Cousin Inspiration Behind Colorful School and Office Supplies That Raise Awareness for Leukemia 12605 4
...ar use of prenatal multivitamin supplements is not...ersity of Pittsburgh researchers report in the cur...ation of the American Society for Nutrition. A con... and health complications, vitamin D insufficiency...gnancy, particularly in the northern latitudes. , ...
...rotein in brain cells may act as a linchpin in the...le in the flurry of signals that govern fat storag...y of Michigan Medical School researchers report. ...protein could be useful in new strategies to fight...s scientists an important system to target in futu...
...ordinary adult mice a drug - a synthetic designed ... M. Evans is now able to chemically switch on PPAR... of cells to burn fat. Even when the mice are not...the same fat-burning process that occurs during ex...ories in, calories burned) makes the mice resistan...
...r the microscope: the relation between biology and...easons. These are the main themes of the Internati..., to be held in Bologna, May 20 to 22, with leadin... mysteries of music, invited to explain their rece...zed by the European Genetics Foundation and the Fo...
Other Biology News:Vitamin D deficiency widespread during pregnancy 2Vitamin D deficiency widespread during pregnancy 3Major link in brain-obesity puzzle found 2Major link in brain-obesity puzzle found 3Major link in brain-obesity puzzle found 4'Exercise pill' switches on gene that tells cells to burn fat 2Music genes and musical geniuses 2
(Date:7/24/2008)...re/ -- The Global Probiotics Council,(GPC), a comm...ult Honsha,Co., Ltd., announced the two awardees w...rant for Probiotics Research (YIGPRO) today. The p...who will continue to contribute to,the advancement...United,States., Ajay S. Gulati, MD, an Assistant ...
(Date:7/24/2008)... Important Advance in Radiofrequency ...if., July 24 /- PEAK Surgical, Inc., ...tissue dissection system,based on a proprietary te...rug Administration has granted the company 510(k) ... use in general surgery. The PEAK Surgery System,c...
(Date:7/24/2008)...ire/ -- Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,a privately-...nced that it,has launched ceftazidime for injectio...m antibiotic. Sagent will offer ceftazidime in 1,a...ge vials. According to,IMS data, 2007 sales of inj...ximately $45.7 million., "Sagent is proud to be p...
(Date:7/24/2008)...swire-FirstCall/ -- United,Therapeutics Corporatio...lease its 2008 second quarter financial results be...., United Therapeutics will host a half-hour tele.... Eastern Time. The teleconference is accessible,b...rs dialing,1-706-679-8129. A rebroadcast of the te...
Breaking Biology Technology:Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 2Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 3Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 4PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 2PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 3PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 4Sagent Pharmaceuticals Launches Ceftazidime for Injection, USP 2
...ceded in Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka when th...s called the wealthier nations of the world stingy...ugged off the remark as yet another reason to disl...uld have done, anyway: They opened their hearts an...dictable outpouring of private and corporate reli...
... or VoIP, may have found the missing link that wou... made a lot of telephone companies go into a state...are paralyzed. , ,The telcos and cable companies a...e issue of delivering voice over the Internet and ...nd devices. This enables them to provide the end-u...
... above Ophir Creek in Alaska. Credit: Alaska Divis...nal, rural Alaskan knowledge can now spread global...vironmental Remote Sensing Center and the Alaska D...ir MapTeach effort, or Mapping Technology Experi... to combine geospatial information with traditiona...
...sy of Optima Batteries. Milwaukee Optima Batt...trols , has announced the latest addition to its l...f the dual-purpose Group 75/25 and 35 models. Both... vehicles by a growth of in-car electronics. , ,Ye...technology, which uses a chemical reaction differe...
Other Biology Technology:Are we stingy on tsunami relief? Not when private giving is counted 2Are we stingy on tsunami relief? Not when private giving is counted 3The day the old telephony died 2The day the old telephony died 3MapTeach project spreads Alaskan geographic knowledge online 2MapTeach project spreads Alaskan geographic knowledge online 3
...s between P-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein l...eukocytes on the lumenal surface of endothelial ce...y role of PSGL-1 in mediating the interaction betw...ented.MAB4092 completely blocks recognition of PSG...
Request Info
...ntact Printing Kit contains choice of Printing Sur...stroms of Gold over Ti adhesion layer, 1 silicon w...hesion layer, or 3 plain glass slides) and PDMS St...100 / 200 micron squares or 100 um x 10 mm or 200 ...
LTBP-1 (E-20)
Biology Products: