Comparative cell toxicology: the basis for in vitro toxicity testing

By Seibert, H. - Gulden, M. - Voss, J.U.

If "cell toxicology" is defined as the discipline aimed at studying the general principles of chemical interference with cellular structures and/or functions, then "comparative cell toxicology" may be defined as the study of the variety of responses to xenobiotics using: (a) different endpoints within one cell type; (b) cell types from different tissues from one species and (c) homologous cell types from different species. If the full potential of in vitro models for toxicity testing is to be realised and the scientific basis for hazard assessment improved, then comparative cell toxicological approaches have to be developed further. In the present paper, an approach using different in vitro systems is described. The approach is aimed at the assessment of the basic toxicological characteristics of chemicals.