Human BJ Fibroblasts is an Alternative to Mouse BALB/c 3T3 Cells in In Vitro Neutral Red Uptake Assay

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2017 Sep:121 Suppl 3:109-115. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.12790. Epub 2017 Jul 3.

Abstract

The OECD GD 129 BALB/c 3T3 neutral red uptake (NRU) assay is a standardized test method for estimating starting dose for an acute oral systemic toxicity test in rodents. Mouse BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts are the most commonly used cells in the NRU assay. We have previously transferred and validated BALB/c 3T3 NRU assay in our GLP laboratory. Subsequently, in order to obtain more human-relevant cytotoxicity data, we performed an intralaboratory validation using human BJ fibroblasts in the NRU assay instead of mouse BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts. Here, we present comparative cytotoxicity data of 26 different test chemicals (pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides and food additives) produced with both BALB/c 3T3 NRU and BJ NRU assays.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animal Testing Alternatives / methods*
  • Animals
  • BALB 3T3 Cells
  • Biological Assay / methods*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival
  • Fibroblasts
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neutral Red / chemistry
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute / methods*

Substances

  • Neutral Red