ABSTRACT
Homogeneous cell populations isolated from the framework of an organ present unique opportunities to study the toxic effects on a single cell type. Among the organs which have proven to be of particular interest as target organs of toxicity are lung, liver, skin, kidney, hematopoietic, nervous, and immune systems. Primary cultures, representing freshly isolated cells from target organs, and established cell lines are valuable in assessing target organ toxicity. Often, classes of chemicals are tested so that their toxicity can be compared within the same system. This permits for the establishment of toxicity data to be used as a reference for previously unknown toxicity of similar classes of chemicals. Essential to this testing principle are hepatocyte cultures, because of the important role that the liver enjoys in xenobiotic metabolism — i.e., metabolism of exogenous substances. Other cell types that are employed for assessing target organ toxicity include lung macrophages and epithelial cells, cardiac, renal, neuronal, and muscle cells.
