Assessing the predictive validity of frog embryo teratogenesis assay—Xenopus (FETAX)

Abstract

The ability of frog embryo teratogenesis assay - Xenopus (FETAX) to identify the potential developmental toxicity of a group of diverse chemicals was evaluated by comparison with results from in vivo studies in rats. A total of 12 chemicals, three of which were shown to be teratogenic in vivo, four of which were embryolethal (but not teratogenic) in vivo, and five which did not produce any developmental toxicity in vivo in the rat were evaluated using FETAX. Results of the FETAX test with these 12 blind-coded compounds correctly predicted that three chemicals had strong teratogenic potential, four had low teratogenic hazard potential but were embryolethal, and five posed little if any developmental toxicity hazard. In addition, this study concluded that within a family of chemistry analogs could be ranked according to relative teratogenic hazard and that for the teratogenic compounds the types of malformations induced in Xenopus mimicked the abnormalities induced in vivo in rats. In summary, these results confirmed that the FETAX assay is predictive and can be useful in an integrated biological hazard assessment for the preliminary screening of chemicals. Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 20:87-98, 2000.

Seeing the future: using Xenopus to understand eye regeneration

“…Toxicology studies using Xenopus have demonstrated that the Xenopus response to chemicals is highly similar to rodents (Fort, Stover, Farmer, & Lemen, ; Fort et al, ). As larvae can be easily cultured in petri dishes, chemical genetic approaches are ideal for identifying and testing pharmacological agents and potential mechanisms that regulate eye repair (Wheeler & Liu, ).…”

Eco-, geno- and human toxicology of bio-active nanoparticles for biomedical applications

“…The TI is calculated for each test, and then the mean of the two tests is determined. Recently, Fort et al (2000) used a decision criterion in which TI values greater than 1.5 indicate increasing teratogenic hazard, while TI values greater than 3.0 indicate concern.…”

Exposure to Low Concentrations of Di-n-butyl Phthalate During Embryogenesis Reduces Survivability and Impairs Development of Xenopus Laevis Frogs

“…The 6-aminonicotinamide positive control treatment resulted in 100% mortality by 72 h and therefore no further analyses were possible. Fort et al (2000) also observed greater than expected mortality with the use of 6-aminonicotinamide as a positive control. The LC50 for exposure to DBP during this period of development in Xenopus laevis was 14.5 ppm.…”

“…Within 96 h, Xenopus embryos undergo cleavage, gastrulation, and major organogenesis in a manner similar to mammals (Nieuwkoop & Faber, 1967). FETAX has been shown to accurately predict developmental effects observed in rats produced by a variety of chemicals (Fort et al, 2000). Several studies indicate that FETAX is a reliable method to screen potentially toxic compounds individually and in mixtures (Bantle et al, 1994a(Bantle et al, , 1994b(Bantle et al, , 1996(Bantle et al, , 1999Dawson et al, 1989;Fort et al, 1998Fort et al, , 2000.…”