[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8042-8043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3913]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service


National Toxicology Program; Center for the Evaluation of Risks 
to Human Reproduction: Notice of a Workshop on Thyroid Hormones and 
Reproduction

Summary

    The Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction 
(CERHR) is sponsoring a workshop entitled ``Thyroid Toxicants: 
Assessing Reproductive Health Effects'' on April 28 and 29, 2003 at the 
Holiday Inn Old Town Select Hotel, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA 
22314 (telephone: 703-549-6080, fax: 703-684-6508). Registration begins 
at 8:30 am on April 28 and the meeting begins at 9 am each day. This 
meeting is open to the public with attendance limited only by the 
availability of space. Persons interested in attending are requested to 
pre-register for this meeting by contacting CERHR (contact information 
below). A preliminary agenda is provided below and additional meeting 
information will be posted, as available, on the CERHR Web site: http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov.

Background

    Thyroid function is modulated through physiological feedback 
mechanisms. Hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states are well known in 
humans with some being associated with iodine levels in the 
environment. Some drugs are known to enhance or repress thyroid 
function, and a recent article identified 116 synthetic chemicals that 
``interfere'' with production, transport, or metabolism of thyroid 
hormone. Thyroid hormone levels modulate other hormone-producing 
tissues particularly those that involve reproduction, development, or 
mental performance. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are 
reported to be associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy 
outcomes in humans.
    The purpose of this NTP-CERHR workshop is two-fold:
    (1) To discuss and determine appropriate designs of developmental 
and reproductive toxicity tests for detecting adverse effects resulting 
from thyroid dysfunction.
    (2) To discuss the relevance of thyroid-related adverse 
reproductive and developmental effects observed in rodents for 
predicting similar effects in humans.

Preliminary Meeting Agenda

    Thyroid Toxicants: Assessing Reproductive Health Effects, Holiday 
Inn Old Town Select Hotel, 480 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 
(telephone: 703-549-6080).

Day 1--Monday, April 28

8:30 a.m. Registration
9 Introduction
    Summary of thyroid conference, ``Thyroid Hormone and Brain 
Development: Translating Molecular Mechanisms to Population Risk,'' 
held at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences on 
September 23-25, 2002
    A review of current alternative assays for assessing thyroid 
toxicity
    Session 1: A comparison of normal thyroid development/control/
function in rodents and humans
10:45 Break
    Session 2: Comparison of the reproductive and developmental effects 
of hypo/hyperthyroidism in rodents and humans
    Discussion
Noon Lunch (on your own)
1 p.m. Session 2, continued: Human/rodent comparison of reproductive

[[Page 8043]]

effects of selected thyroid active chemicals
    Methimazole
    PTU
    Phenobarbital
    Sulfamethazine
    Discussion
5 Adjourn

Day 2--Tuesday, April 29

9 a.m.
    Session 3: The elements of a rodent testing protocol to consider in 
assessing thyroid effects on reproduction and development and their 
relevance to human health effects
    Discussion
10:15 Break
    Session 4: An overview of 1) appropriate rodent protocols for 
detecting thyroid effects on reproduction and development and 2) the 
appropriate use of rodent data for predicting human effects
    Discussion
Noon Adjourn

    As additional details and materials for this workshop become 
available, they will be posted on the CERHR Web site (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) or can be obtained by contacting Dr. Michael 
Shelby, Director, CERHR, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD EC-32, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27709; telephone: 919-541-3455; fax: 919-316-4511; e-
mail: [email protected]

Pre-Registration

    This workshop is open to the public and interested individuals are 
encouraged to attend. Time is set aside for open discussion throughout 
the meeting to provide an opportunity for all attendees to contribute 
to the scientific discussion. The number of attendees will be limited 
only by the space available. Due to the limitations of space, pre-
registration for this meeting is encouraged. To pre-register, please 
provide your name, affiliation, contact information and email address 
by Friday, April 18, 2003, to: Ms. Harriet McCollum, CERHR, Suite 500, 
1800 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: 703-838-9440; fax: 
703-684-2223; email: [email protected]

    Dated: February 7, 2003.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
[FR Doc. 03-3913 Filed 2-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P