Terminology of developmental abnormalities in common laboratory mammals (version 2)

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Developmental Biology
• Comparative Anatomy

Background:

• The Terminology of Developmental Abnormalities in Common Laboratory Mammals (Version 1) required updates for improved application and consistency.
• Developmental toxicity studies rely on standardized terminology for accurate data collection and interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present Version 2 of the terminology, incorporating enhancements to content and organization.
• To provide a flexible yet consistent framework for describing developmental abnormalities in laboratory mammals.
• To support accurate specimen evaluation in developmental toxicity studies.

Main Methods:

• International collaboration involving organizations, experts, and workshops.
• Revisions focused on content and organizational improvements.
• Terminology organized into tables for external, visceral, and skeletal observations.

Main Results:

• Version 2 offers enhanced flexibility and consistency in describing findings.
• The terminology covers common laboratory mammals: rats, mice, and rabbits.
• Skeletal terms have been expanded to include cartilage findings.

Conclusions:

• The revised terminology facilitates more effective data collection and analysis in developmental toxicity studies.
• The focus remains on descriptive terminology, not diagnosis or interpretation.
• Future updates may consider additional species or diagnostic categorizations.