FETAX assay for evaluation of developmental toxicity.
The Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay Xenopus (FETAX) test is a development toxicity screening test. Due to the small amount of compound needed and the capability to study organogenesis in a short period of time (96 h), FETAX test constitutes an efficient development toxicity alert test when performed early in drug safety development. The test is conducted on fertilized Xenopus laevis mid-blastula stage eggs over the organogenesis period. Compound teratogenic potential is determined after analysis of the mortality and malformation observations on larva. In parallel, FETAX test provides also information concerning embryotoxic effect based on larva length.
Disposition, Safety and Animal Research, sanofi-aventis R&D, Porcheville, France. isabelle.mouche@sanofi-aventis.com
Isabelle
I
Mouche
Laure
L
Malesic
Olivier
O
Gillardeaux
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology