The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is an academic center affiliated with the Division of Toxicological Sciences in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Research Grants 1991-1992

Characterization of an In Vitro Model for the Assessment of Toxicant-Induced Distal Tubular Damage

Mary Ann Smith, PhD
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas

Current in vivo and in vitro tests that monitor whole kidney function assess proximal tubular functions. Recently, however, agents have been implicated in producing direct toxicity in the more distal portions of the nephron. Current nephrotoxicity tests which evaluate only the proximal tubular function would miss these other agents. Dr. Smith is endeavoring to develop the first in vitro model for the assessment of distal tubular injury.