Substantial evidence exists that early exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) causes reproductive dysfunction in
vertebrates. Some of the OEC D guidelines for testing the effects of EDs address later-life effects on reproduction
triggered by embryonic exposures. However, in addition to reproductive effects, exposure to EDs during early life
is reported to play a fundamental role in the onset of metabolic diseases, which are of high global concern.
Despite this, the OEC D guidelines do not include tests to investigate later-life metabolic disruption triggered by
early exposure to EDs. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of tools in vertebrates that effectively
assess metabolic disruption after embryonic exposure to environmental contaminants (including EDs). In this
proposal, we will perform experiments in chickens that aim for a thorough assessment of metabolic and
reproductive disruption induced by EDs during early development. Taking advantage of the fact that avian eggs
allow for tightly controlled embryonic exposures, chicken eggs will be exposed at critical developmental times to
selected environmental contaminants (EDs). We will then assess the metabolic consequences of early embryonic
exposure to EDs before hatching (via egg respiration), as well as the long-term effects on mitochondrial function
and epigenome, organismal physiology, and sperm nuclear epigenome. Finally, Adverse Outcome Pathways
(AOPs) will be developed with the data obtained.