Advancing the science of developmental neurotoxicity (DNT): testing for better safety evaluation

test Guidelines OPPtS 8706300 on DNt (US ePA, 1998) and in 2007 the Organization for economic Cooperation and Development (OeCD) endorsed a new OeCD DNt test Guideline 426 (OeCD, 2007). these guidelines are largely based on animal studies and are used as higher tiered, triggered tests based on structure activity relationships or evidence of neurotoxicity in standard adult, developmental, or reproduction studies (Makris et al., 2009). experts at the conference stated that these in vivo tests are unsuitable for screening large numbers of chemicals for many reasons including low throughput, high cost, and questions regarding reliability. there was also consensus that new, reliable, and efficient screening and assessment tools are needed for better identification, prioritization, and evaluation of chemicals with the potential to induce developmental neurotoxicity. the information obtained from these screening studies will likely also help to refine animal tests and to inform epidemiological studies.