In Vitro Tests for Detecting Chemicals Affecting the Embryo Implantation Process

This is the report of the xxxxxxx of a series of workshops organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). ECVAM' s main goal, as defined in 1993 by its Scientific Advisory Committee, is to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods which are of importance to the biosciences and which reduce, refine or replace the use of laboratory animals. The workshop on in vitro tests for detecting chemicals affecting the implantation process and placental toxicity was held in Ispra, Italy, on 2–3 October 2006, under the co-chairmanship of Susanne Bremer and Lennart Dencker. The workshop was built on the reports and recommendations of ECVAM Workshop 53 (1) and on the Research Area of Implantation-WP2 ReProTect Workshops held in Copenhagen on January 2005 and Uppsala on May 2005 (information not published). It was one of a series of strategic workshops within ReProTect, an integrated project aimed at furthering the development of in vitro methods in the area of reproductive toxicology, which consists of a consortium of 32 European partners and is financially supported by the European Commission with Euro 9.1 million. The ReProTect Research Area of “implantation” is aiming to develop tests and testing batteries that are able to detect chemical effects in various target cells/tissues and mechanisms involved in the preparation of the uterus for the implantation of the embryo as well as on placentation. The workshop, which was attended by 15 invited participants from six European Countries reviewed a number of possible subendpoints relevant for the process of implantation placental toxicity, and discussed and evaluated alternative methods that could mimic these subendpoints in vitro according to their test development status and their relevance. The modular approach was introduced and used as a template for the progression of each test system (2) In addition, the workshop proposes chemical classes and reference chemicals that should be selected for the development of ReProTect tests.JRC.I.2-Validation of biomedical testing method