Human Serum Teratogenicity Studies Using in Vitro Cultures of Rat Embryos

摘要

Those conditions that constitute reproductive risks to man are being analyzed. Particular concern is with those conditions that cannot be or have not been identified by present methodologies. These conditions constitute the majority of factors causing fetal wastages and birth defects. The test system uses intact rat embryos that are cultured in vitro for 2 days. Findings to date suggest that this system may have a number of distinct advantages: (1) whole-embryo culture provides the test with the entire repertoire of processes involved in embryonic development; (2) whole-rat embryos can be cultured on high levels of blood serum; and (3) they can be cultured on serum from human subjects, which provides a direct and unique evaluation of the principal organism of concern. In regard to this last point, it is important to recognize that there is a large range of teratogenic responses and sensitivities to teratogens dependent upon both individual and species differences. (ERA citation 07:058247)