[Alternative methods, the present and future]

Alternative methods are already widely used in fundamental biological research. Among 6,649 papers given at the FASEB 1989 meeting, nearly 60 p. 100 deal with experimental data obtained without the use of live animals. Alternative methods are less frequently utilized in industrial Toxicology. The reason of this discrepancy is discussed as well as the efforts made to reduce the numbers of animals for acute toxicity studies (LD 50) and cutaneous and eye tolerance. Present scientific developments as well as the possible agreement by regulatory agencies of the newly developed tests are presented. In spite of the increasing acceptance of alternative methods, large numbers of animals are still used. The reasons for this state of affairs are analysed, as well as the efforts which are made to encourage research for the replacement of animals in programs traditionally based on animal experimentation.