Organophosphates are compounds that are commonly used as pesticides and furthermore conceivable as chemical warfare agents. These compounds are also used for medical treatment in diseases like glaucoma and Alzheimer’s. All of the promising leads to date are based on observations made from in vivo studies conducted in animals and humans, and therefore have a strong mechanistic foundation. A current basic shift in the ethical, scientific and commercial engagement for alternatives to animal experimentation have engaged scientists from academia and industry to the development of alternative, non-animal test methods for assessing the toxic effect of a chemical.

Keywords: cell lines; toxicology