Organ cultures of embryonic target-tissues exposed transplacentally to chemical substances as a test-system for rapid evaluation of carcinogenicity.

Organ cultures of embryonic target-tissues transplacentally treated by chemical substances are proposed as a test-system for a rapid evaluation of carcinogenicity of environmental pollutions. The results of transplacental effect of some different substances (urethane, polycyclic hydrocarbons, N-nitrosocarcinogens, aminoazo compounds, cyclic amines, aflatoxin B1, pesticide DDT and some noncarcinogenic analogs) on organ cultures of embryonic lung, kidney, liver and brain (hyppocamp) are presented. Transplacental effect in organ cultures depended on the used carcinogen, its dosage, duration of cultivation and on the susceptibility of animals and explanted tissue. The tested carcinogens induced in organ cultures of embryonic target-tissues: 1. specific morphological alterations (diffuse and focal hyperplastic pretumoral alterations of epithelium and tumors); 2. alteration of cell proliferation and 3. an increase of viability and survival of explanted embryonic tissues. This criteria and proposed test-system are critically evaluated with respect to its practical use.