Developmental Toxicology

Question 1

What is whole embryo culture?

Answer 1

WEC is a developmental toxicity assay where rat or rabbit embryos are removed from the uterus at the beginning of organogenesis to observe effects of exposure during this window of development.

Question 2

Why is Cd a developmental toxicant?

Answer 2

Cadmium competes for zinc uptake and is directly toxic to the placenta.

Question 3

Segment I, II and III testing are a part of developmental toxicity risk assessment. What do these 3 stages cover?

Answer 3

Stage I covers animal testing before conception, including gamete development, implantation and fertility. Stage II covers implantation through organogenesis. Stage III covers the last trimester through lactation.

Question 4

OECD 414 Developmental toxicity test is analogous to which FDA test?

Answer 4

OECD 414 is similar to Segment II testing for effects on implantation through organogenesis.

Question 5

The ICH tests (4.1.1-4.1.3) covers what stages of developmental toxicity testing?

Answer 5

ICH 4.1.1 cover fertility and gamete development, comparable to Segment I test. ICH 4.1.2 covers implantation through lactation. ICH 4.1.3 covers implantation through organogenesis, like Segment II test, and is conducted in 2 species.

Question 6

Which of these has the highest concordance for developmental toxicity with humans? Rats, hamsters, rabbits, mice

Answer 6

Mice and rats

Question 7

The CHildre’s Health and Food Quality Protection Act resulte din what risk assessment changes for EPA?

Answer 7

Recommended the application of an additional safety factor of 10 for pesticides found in foods. This is applied at EPA’s discretion.