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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Quantitate Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells HSPCs in Developing Zebrafish Embryos
Published on: November 30, 2017
A multi-institutional study benchmarking the zebrafish developmental assay for prediction of embryotoxic plasma
Steven Cassar1, Manon Beekhuijzen2, Bruce Beyer3
1AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA.
Abstract:
Predicting embryotoxicity of pharmaceutical compounds or industrial chemicals is crucial for public safety. Conventional studies which monitor embryo-fetal development in rats and rabbits are costly and time consuming. Alternative assays which are simpler and less costly are being pursued. The purpose of this research was to assess the capacity for the zebrafish development assay to predict mammalian plasma levels that are embryotoxic. Previously published data on rat plasma levels associated with embryotoxicity were used to guide concentration ranges for each of 25 chemicals dissolved in the media bathing developing zebrafish embryos. Embryotoxic media concentrations were compared to embryotoxic rat plasma concentrations. Assays were conducted in parallel at multiple sites as a consortium effort through the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI). Considering results from all sites, the zebrafish embryo development assay predicted (within 1-log) the rat maternal exposure levels associated with embryotoxicity 75% of the time.
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