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Behavioral screening for toxicology and safety pharmacology
Citation:
Moser, Ginger AND M. Kallman. Behavioral screening for toxicology and safety pharmacology. Chapter 6, Charlene McQueen (ed.), Comprehensive Toxicology, 3rd edition. ELSEVIER, AMSTERDAM, Holland, 6:409-423, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
This chapter teaches about behavioral screening for both toxicological and safety pharmacology assessments
Description:
Screening for behavioral toxicity, or neurotoxicity, has been in use for many decades; however, only in the past 20 years has this become a standard practice in toxicology and safety pharmacology. Current screening batteries, such as the functional observational battery (FOB) and Irwin screen, are derived from protocols used in pharmacology, toxicology, and psychology. Although there is a range of protocols in use today, all focus on detailed observations and specific tests of reflexes and responses. Several neurological functions are typically assessed, including autonomic, neuromuscular, and sensory, as well as levels of activity and excitability. The tests have been shown to be valid in detecting expected effects of known neurotoxicants, and are reliable and reproducible when compared across laboratories. Regardless of the specific protocol used, proper conduct and statistical analyses of the data are critical. Interpretation is based on the information from individual end points as well as the profile, or pattern, of effects observed. With continued refinement, behavioral screening methods will continue to be important tools with which to protect human health in the future and to support safe human testing of new pharmaceutical compounds.
