Strategies for the utilization of animal models in occupational health research

Abstract

In occupational health studies, it is important to understand the toxic effects of industrial chemical exposure. In addition to comprehending these toxic effects on humans through disaster surveys, experimental data obtained from animal studies are indispensable not only for establishing the existence of adverse effects but also for clarifying their toxicological mechanisms. As we encounter a wide variety of chemicals in our daily lives, including industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and food additives. Thus, it is necessary to assess the toxicity of several chemicals, including the re-evaluation of existing chemical substances and the evaluation of new chemical substances. Consequently, it is imperative to establish appropriate animal models with various advantages, such as high reconstructability, reproducibility, sensitivity, and throughput, while also considering cost, time, labor, animal welfare, and extrapolation to humans. This article describes the effective usage and perspectives of rodents (mice and rats) and nematodes (i.e., Caenorhabditis elegans) as animal models that are currently used by the authors for toxicity studies in the occupational health field.