Research in this laboratory is aimed toward understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control neuronal development in the fetus, newborn and adolescent, especially the adverse effects of drugs of abuse and environmental contaminants. Ongoing projects comprise three areas:

(1) Mechanisms regulating development of synapses: ontogeny of neurotransmitter receptors and intracellular signaling cascades; endocrine and trophic factors.

(2) Adverse effects of exogenous agents on development: drugs of abuse (especially nicotine), hormonal imbalances, environmental contaminants (pesticides), drug therapies for preterm labor.

(3) Unique biological properties of the adolescent brain: their role in addiction and neural injury by environmental toxicants.

Slotkin TA, Seidler FJ, Qiao D, Aldridge JE, Tate CA, Cousins MM, Proskocil BJ, Sekhon HS, Clark JA, Lupo SL and Spindel ER (2005) Effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on primate brain development and attempted amelioration with supplemental choline or vitamin C: neurotransmitter receptors, cell signaling and cell development biomarkers in fetal brain regions of Rhesus monkeys. Neuropsychopharmacology 30:129-144.

Slotkin TA, Oliver CA and Seidler FJ (2005) Critical periods for the role of oxidative stress in the developmental neurotoxicity of chlorpyrifos and terbutaline, alone or in combination. Dev. Brain Res. 157:172-180.

Slotkin TA, Brown KK and Seidler FJ (2005) Developmental exposure of rats to chlorpyrifos elicits sex-selective hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia in adulthood. Environ. Health Perspect. 113:1291-1294.

Kreider ML, Tate CA, Cousins MM, Oliver CA, Seidler FJ and Slotkin TA (2006) Lasting effects of developmental dexamethasone treatment on neural cell number and size, synaptic activity and cell signaling: critical periods of vulnerability, dose-effect relationships, regional targets and sex
selectivity. Neuropsychopharmacology 31:12-35.

Slotkin TA, Pinkerton KE and Seidler FJ (2006) Perinatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure in Rhesus monkeys: critical periods and regional selectivity for effects on brain cell development and lipid peroxidation. Environ. Health Perspect. 114:34-39.

Jameson RR, Seidler FJ, Qiao D and Slotkin TA (2006) Chlorpyrifos affects phenotypic outcomes in a model of mammalian neurodevelopment: critical stages targeting differentiation in PC12 cells. Environ. Health Perspect. 114:667-672.

Slotkin TA, Levin ED and Seidler FJ (2006) Comparative developmental neurotoxicity of organophosphate insecticides: effects on brain development are separable from systemic toxicity. Environ. Health Perspect. 114:746-751.

Slotkin, T.A., E.A. MacKillop, I.T. Ryde and F.J. Seidler, Ameliorating the developmental neurotoxicity of chlorpyrifos: a mechanisms-based approach in PC12 cells. Environmental Health Perspectives 115: 1306-1313, 2007.

Slotkin, T.A., I.T. Ryde and F.J. Seidler, Separate or sequential exposure to nicotine prenatally and in adulthood: persistent effects on acetylcholine systems in rat brain regions. Brain Research Bulletin 74:91-103, 2007.

Slotkin, T.A., F.J. Seidler and F. Fumagalli, Exposure to organophosphates reduces the expression of neurotrophic factors in neonatal rat brain regions: similarities and differences in the effects of chlorpyrifos and diazinon on the fibroblast growth factor superfamily. Environmental Health Perspectives 115: 909-916, 2007.

Slotkin, T.A. and F.J. Seidler, Comparative developmental neurotoxicity of organophosphates in vivo: transcriptional responses of pathways for brain cell development, cell signaling, cytotoxicity and neurotransmitter systems. Brain Research Bulletin 72: 232-274, 2007.