Adaptive and nonadaptive consequences of chemical inhibition of intercellular communication.

Intercellular communication is a fundamental process in multicellular organisms developed to orchestrate homeostatic control of mitotic and differentiation processes in pre- and postmitotic cells. Endogenous and exogenous chemicals can, via a series of mechanisms, interfere with intercellular communication between and within various tissues. The responses to the inhibition of non-gap-junctional and gap-junctional communication can be either adaptive or nonadaptive depending on the mitigating circumstances. The inhibition of gap-junctional communication appears to be one of the sequelae of a membrane-triggered response to many natural and man-made pharmacological chemicals. The biological consequences of inhibited intercellular communication might include teratogenesis (embryo or fetal toxicity), tumor promotion, reproductive toxicology, and neuroendocrine-related disorders.