Interlaboratory assessment of alternatives to the Draize eye irritation test in Germany.

A national interlaboratory study to validate two alternative methods to the Draize rabbit's eye test, co-ordinated by ZEBET at the German Federal Health Office (BGA), is described. The aim of the study is to classify chemicals according to their irritation potential using the neutral red/kenacid blue (NR/KB) cytotoxicity assay and the hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) test. During the last two years 12 toxicology laboratories from industry, universities and other research institutions have tested 32 substances from a variety of chemical classes, characterized by a broad spectrum of locally irritating properties, using the NR/KB cytotoxicity test and the HET-CAM assay.

Development of an in vitro test system with human skin cells for evaluation of phototoxicity.

Photosensitizing compounds may cause severe skin reactions after appropriate light exposure. On the cellular level this cutaneous in vivo response can be demonstrated by an in vitro model system with adequate target cells of human skin. Normal keratinocytes and fibroblasts were used to establish a predictive assay for phototoxic compounds.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 14C-oxaceprol in beagle dogs after intramuscular and oral administration.

Blood and plasma levels and renal and faecal excretion of 14C-oxaceprol (N-acetyl-4-hydroxyproline, AHP 200) were measured after p.o. and after i.

[Teratologic studies on a low-molecular polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex in rabbits].

In investigations on rabbits a low-molecular polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex was tested upon its facultative teratological effects after intramuscular application. The dams showed a dose dependent loss of weight increase. The average embryo- and placenta weights of test animals were lower than those of the control animals.