Anneline Pinson: Early exposure to endocrine disruptors and neocortex development

Anneline Pinson, PhD in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been awarded a F.R.S.-FNRS research associate mandate to continue her research into how early exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) can alter the development of the neocortex, a key region of the brain for the development of cognitive functions.

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linical studies have already established a link between early exposure to endocrine disrupters (EDs) - exogenous substances that disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system - and impaired cognitive function, but the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood. These substances, which are present in our daily lives, pose a real public health problem.

Entitled "Involvement of GnRH in alterations to neocortex development induced by exposure to endocrine disruptors", Anneline Pinson's project aims to fill this gap by providing answers at cellular and molecular level. It also focuses on alterations in neuronal projections between the hypothalamus and the neocortex, an area little explored to date.

More specifically, this project aims to explore the effects of these disruptors on interactions between the hypothalamus, the neuroendocrine control centre, and the neocortex," explains the researcher. "The aim is to determine the repercussions on cognitive functions, while elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms at work.

Recent advances in neuroendocrinology have revealed that the neurons of the hypothalamus, long studied for their role in regulating puberty and reproductive functions, are also involved in controlling cognitive functions. Anneline Pinson wants to check whether endocrine disruptors modify the establishment of neuronal networks between the hypothalamus and the neocortex. This could pave the way for a better understanding of cognitive disorders linked to these substances.

The results of this project could not only shed light on the effects of endocrine disruptors on the brain, but also help to strengthen existing legislation," adds the researcher. At present, they do not fully protect the population against these substances, and a better understanding of their effects on the brain, particularly on the neocortex, could encourage the European authorities to adopt stricter laws to reduce our exposure.

It was Anneline Pinson's growing awareness of the importance of endocrine disruptors in our society that prompted her to embark on this research. These substances, to which we are all exposed on a daily basis, represent a major public health issue. Through her work, Anneline Pinson hopes to contribute to the introduction of practical solutions to protect our health and our environment.

About Anneline Pinson

Anneline Pinson obtained a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Liège in 2012. She then completed her doctoral thesis in the laboratory of Prof. Anne-Simone Parent, within the Neuroendocrinology unit of the GIGA. Her research focused on the effects of persistent endocrine disruptors - such as polychlorinated biphenyls - on the hippocampus, a brain region essential for memory.

During her doctorate, she spent two research periods in Portland, in the laboratory of Prof. Gary Westbrook, where she learned specialist techniques. After defending her thesis in 2016, Anneline Pinson continued her training in Germany, in Prof. Wieland Huttner's laboratory at the Max Planck Institute (MPI-CBG) in Dresden. There, she became interested in the development of the neocortex, the largest region of the human brain. In 2023, she returned to Belgium to join Professor Anne-Simone Parent's laboratory.