Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Protocol for the Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Mixed Cultures of Neurons and Glia for Neurotoxicity Testing
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Protocol for the Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Mixed Cultures of Neurons and Glia for Neurotoxicity Testing

Published on: June 9, 2017

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Current Availability of Stem Cell-Based In Vitro Methods for Developmental Neurotoxicity (DNT) Testing

Ellen Fritsche1, Marta Barenys2, Jördis Klose2

  • 1Heinrich Heine University, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology
|July 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Chemicals can harm developing nervous systems. This review explores stem cell-based in vitro methods for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing, offering alternatives to resource-intensive animal studies.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Toxicology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Chemical exposures during development can lead to irreversible neurodevelopmental impairments.
  • Assessing developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is crucial for public health and regulatory safety.
  • Current in vivo DNT guidelines are resource-intensive, driving the need for alternative methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review available stem/progenitor cell-based in vitro methods for DNT evaluation.
  • To assess these methods based on the concept of neurodevelopmental process assessment.
  • To identify research gaps within a proposed DNT in vitro testing battery.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of stem/progenitor cell-based in vitro assays for DNT.
  • Assessment of methods against neurodevelopmental processes.
  • Compilation of methods into a testing battery framework.

Main Results:

  • Stem/progenitor cell-based in vitro methods show promise for DNT evaluation.
  • These methods can assess specific neurodevelopmental processes.
  • Gaps exist in the current testing battery, highlighting areas for future research.

Conclusions:

  • In vitro cell-based assays offer a viable alternative to traditional DNT testing.
  • A comprehensive DNT in vitro testing battery is being developed.
  • Further research is needed to fill identified gaps and validate these alternative methods.

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