title: Prescreening for environmental teratogens using cultured mesenchymal cells from the human embryonic palate.
abstract: Mesenchymal cells from the prefusion human embryonic palate have been established in culture and can be grown in either a serum-free hormone-supplemented medium or a serum-containing medium. The growth of these cells is quite rapid in culture and inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by most teratogens thus far tested, such as dexamethasone. These cells are highly sensitive to a variety of DNA synthetic and mitotic inhibitors. The responses of these cells are complementary to the ovarian tumor cell attachment assay of Braun et al [1, and in this volume]. When used in conjunction with the tumor cells, the overall reliability is greater than 90% with only one false-negative, allopurinol.
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000633:toxicity; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010159:Palate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D013723:Teratogens; D003907:Dexamethasone