摘要
AIM Developmental toxicity testing to current international guidelines involves exposure of pregnant animals, mostly rats and rabbits, and subsequent assessment of toxic effects in their fetuses. Alternative methods have been developed since 1980s. The most complex assays in this area make distinctive and extensive use of isolated postimplantation rodent embryos which are cultured in vitro during the phase of major organogenesis. The objective of this study is to establish an in vitro embryotoxicity test----based on postimplatation 9.5d whole embryo culture (WEC) and 3T3 cell toxicity. The possibilities for their application as embryotoxicity screens have been investigated.
