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Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Array based analysis of endocrine-disrupting properties of selected plant protection products in the low dose range in vitro
Project
Project code: BfR-CHS-08-1322-456
Contract period: 01.04.2010
- 31.12.2011
Purpose of research: Applied research
The evaluation of plant protection products and biocides with potential endocrine disrupting properties will become more important in the future also due to recent scientific progress and novel regulations. Because of the necessity to analyze mechanisms of toxicity in this context while at the same time reducing animal testing, appropriate in vitro methods will become more and more important for the analysis of endocrine disruptive mechanisms. Traditional toxicity testing is aimed to establish a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) and a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). The doses used in such studies are usually higher than realistic human exposure. As non-monotonic dose response relationship, e.g. effects well below the NOAEL, so called low dose effects, are intensively and controversially discussed in the field of endocrine disruption, robust methods are needed, which allow quantification of responsive parameters over a wide dose range. Establishing and validating intelligent testing strategies that also allow a reliable quantitative analysis of dose response should therefore be a major focus of research. The use of low density gene expression arrays based on established, quantifiable marker genes for analysis of changes in mRNA expression caused by selected endocrine-disrupting properties seems to be a promising approach in this context. In the framework of this project, three aims / questions should therefore be analysed: 1. Low density gene expression arrays like TaqMan® Arrays using established markers for (anti-) androgenic or (anti-)estrogenic effects should be used to identify and quantify endocrine disrupting properties of selected plant protection products in hormone-sensitive tumour cell lines.2. It should be analysed whether or not it is possible to identify robust and reproducible effects in the low dose range.3. Furthermore, it should be analysed whether or not it is possible to correlate in vitro data obtained by this method.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
- Toxicology
