Biomaterial Database

Testicular and germ cell toxicity: in vitro approaches. 1993

J C Lamb, and R E Chapin

Jellinek, Schwartz & Connolly, Inc., Washington, DC 20005.

Research on testicular toxicology has been advanced significantly by the introduction of in vitro testing systems. In vivo systems, however, are still essential parts of the risk assessment process, and they are unlikely to be eliminated by in vitro model systems. While in vivo systems are needed to study the integrated male reproductive system, in vitro systems are uniquely suited to investigate specific mechanisms of action in the testis. In vitro systems substantially improve the interpretation and use of in vivo systems. In vitro models can be used alone or in combination with each other to test hypotheses about testicular toxicity. Numerous systems are described in the literature, including Sertoli-germ cell cocultures, Sertoli cell-enriched cultures, germ cell-enriched cultures, Leydig cell cultures, and Leydig-Sertoli cell cocultures. These systems have been used to test relative toxicologic activity of selected chemicals in a class, to investigate the cellular response to certain toxicants, to study the metabolic capability of cells, and to describe the interaction of adjacent cell types.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
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
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013094	Spermatozoa	Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility.	Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms
D013737	Testis	The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS.	Testicles,Testes,Testicle
D014116	Toxicology	The science concerned with the detection, chemical composition, and biological action of toxic substances or poisons and the treatment and prevention of toxic manifestations.	Toxinology,Evidence Based Toxicology,Evidence-Based Toxicology,Based Toxicologies, Evidence,Based Toxicology, Evidence,Evidence Based Toxicologies,Evidence-Based Toxicologies,Toxicologies, Evidence Based,Toxicologies, Evidence-Based,Toxicology, Evidence Based,Toxicology, Evidence-Based