A Mechanism for Hormesis - A Problem in the Wrong Discipline

The wealth of examples of hormesis exhibiting the beta curve leave little doubt as to the generality of the phenomenon. However, its full acceptance requires a satisfactory theoretical basis to account for the diversity of instances of hormesis; without it the concept has little meaning beyond what...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical reviews in toxicology 2003, Vol.33 (3-4), p.463-467
Main Author: Stebbing, A.R.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological
Animals
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Homeostasis - drug effects
Homeostasis - physiology
Humans
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Summary:The wealth of examples of hormesis exhibiting the beta curve leave little doubt as to the generality of the phenomenon. However, its full acceptance requires a satisfactory theoretical basis to account for the diversity of instances of hormesis; without it the concept has little meaning beyond what is obvious from the defining beta curve. It has been proposed that a homeostatic hypothesis is the most plausible and is gaining support. However, there is a need to involve researchers in other disciplines than toxicology to identify physiological mechanisms to account for it, whereupon hormesis can begin to gain wider recognition and fulfill its potential in pure and applied science. Normal science... often suppresses fundamental novelties because they are necessarily subversive of its basic commitments. Thomas S. Kuhn 1962 Every novel idea...must, before it wins general acceptance, pass through three stages. It is, to begin with, repudiated as absurd. After that it is allowed to be reasonable. And, finally, it is belittled as obvious. Almroth Wright (1861-1947)
ISSN:1040-8444
1547-6898
DOI:10.1080/713611038