Development of the Concept for Stem Cell-Based Developmental Neurotoxicity Evaluation

Toxicol Sci. 2018 Sep 1;165(1):14-20. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy175.

Abstract

Human brain development consists of a series of complex spatiotemporal processes that if disturbed by chemical exposure causes irreversible impairments of the nervous system. To evaluate a chemical disturbance in an alternative assay, the concept evolved that the complex procedure of brain development can be disassembled into several neurodevelopmental endpoints which can be represented by a combination of different alternative assays. In this review article, we provide a scientific rationale for the neurodevelopmental endpoints that are currently chosen to establish assays with human stem/and progenitor cells. Assays covering these major neurodevelopmental endpoints are thought to assemble as building blocks of a DNT testing battery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / embryology
  • Brain / growth & development
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neural Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neural Stem Cells / pathology
  • Neurogenesis / drug effects*
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / etiology
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / pathology
  • Toxicity Tests / methods*