A short-term screening test for teratogens using differentiating neuroblastoma cells in vitro.
Thirty-nine teratogenic and 18 nonteratogenic compounds were tested using an assay based on the ability of agents to interfere with normal growth and differentiation of murine neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E-115) in culture. Induction of differentiation in cells under growth-promoting conditions and inhibition of differentiating cells over a period of 7 days was dose-dependent, with the lowest effective dose not being highly toxic. Eighty-six percent of the compounds were correctly identified by the assay. The proportions of both false negatives (10%) and false positives (22%) were of the same order or better than in current, comparable tests. The possibilities offered by the system in rapid screening for teratogenic potential of environmental agents are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D008722:Methods; D051379:Mice; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D013723:Teratogens / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D013723:Teratogens