INVITRO MODELS FOR TOXICOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND TESTING

The objective of this report is to discuss some of the issues involved in utilizing in vitro methods in toxicological research and testing. The subject is not new, in vitro methods have been used for many years in this context. However, there has been a significant increase in in terest in the topic within the scientific community recently as witnes sed by the increase in scientific journals dedicated to the topic, sym posia held by scientific societies, and commitment of resources to in vitro toxicological research activities. Toxicologists should be aware of these developments as the future directions of the science will be influenced significantly by in vitro methodology.