Biomaterial Database

An in vitro assay for teratogens with cultures of rat embryo midbrain and limb bud cells. 1984

O P Flint, and T C Orton

A short-term in vitro assay for teratogens has been evaluated and shown to have a high predictability (greater than 90%). Cultured cells derived from midbrain (CNS) and limb buds (LB) of 34 to 36 somite rat embryos were exposed to 46 compounds (27 teratogens, 19 nonteratogens) in a blind trial. Rat liver post mitochondrial supernatant fraction plus cofactors were included in the cultures to provide metabolizing enzymes. Differentiation of neurons from CNS cells and chondrocytes from LB cells was measured after 5 days of culture. Inhibition of differentiation (assessed by reduction of number of foci) was the indicator of potential teratogenicity. Variation between experiments was limited. In repeat experiments with two direct-acting teratogens, aldrin and diphenylhyantoin, interexperiment variability was low (coefficient of variation; range 7 to 24%). Of 27 teratogens 25 (93%) and only 2 of 19 nonteratogens (11%) inhibited differentiation (CNS or LB). Inhibition of differentiation in one cell type alone was less predictive (CNS: 85%, LB: 82%).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008636	Mesencephalon	The middle of the three primitive cerebral vesicles of the embryonic brain. Without further subdivision, midbrain develops into a short, constricted portion connecting the PONS and the DIENCEPHALON. Midbrain contains two major parts, the dorsal TECTUM MESENCEPHALI and the ventral TEGMENTUM MESENCEPHALI, housing components of auditory, visual, and other sensorimoter systems.	Midbrain,Mesencephalons,Midbrains
D008862	Microsomes, Liver	Closed vesicles of fragmented endoplasmic reticulum created when liver cells or tissue are disrupted by homogenization. They may be smooth or rough.	Liver Microsomes,Liver Microsome,Microsome, Liver
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004353	Drug Evaluation, Preclinical	Preclinical testing of drugs in experimental animals or in vitro for their biological and toxic effects and potential clinical applications.	Drug Screening,Evaluation Studies, Drug, Pre-Clinical,Drug Evaluation Studies, Preclinical,Drug Evaluations, Preclinical,Evaluation Studies, Drug, Preclinical,Evaluation, Preclinical Drug,Evaluations, Preclinical Drug,Medicinal Plants Testing, Preclinical,Preclinical Drug Evaluation,Preclinical Drug Evaluations,Drug Screenings,Screening, Drug,Screenings, Drug
D005121	Extremities	The farthest or outermost projections of the body, such as the HAND and FOOT.	Limbs,Extremity,Limb
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013723	Teratogens	An agent that causes the production of physical defects in the developing embryo.	Embryotoxins,Fetotoxins,Teratogen