In Vitro Methods for Characterizing Chemical Interactions with Steroid Hormone Receptors

Abstract

In response to concern over possible human exposure to endocrine active chemicals the USEPA has proposed an Endocrine Disruptor screening program to evaluate endocrine-disrupting properties of chemical substances and common mixtures. The program will evaluate tens of thousands of compounds and as a result assays will need to be developed that will allow for the screening of a large number of chemicals. This chapter describes several in vitro assays for characterizing chemical interaction with steroid hormone receptors. These assays are relatively rapid and inexpensive, and they allow for the testing of multiple chemicals over a wide dose range. Some of these assays are likely to be considered by the USEPA as part of a screening strategy for endocrine active chemicals. In vitro assays can also be used to obtain mechanistic information that can aid in understanding and predicting the in vivo effects of endocrine active chemicals.