Abstract

CASTRO, Gerardo Daniel. El aporte de la toxicología experimental a la evaluación de riesgo tóxico y el desarrollo de tratamientos para las intoxicaciones. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2023, vol.57, n.1, pp.125-125. ISSN 0325-2957.

Poisoning, whatever its origin, involves the alteration of cellular physiology, which in turn will start processes that affect the function of organs or systems, compromising life to some extent. The modern definition of toxicology is clear and essentially encompasses the above plus the concept of toxic risk (probability). In our laboratory, several toxic substances acting on different target sites of the organism have been studied. These have been molecules with different physical-chemical characteristics, varied uses and routes of exposure, and deleterious consequences on different vital organs and functions. What made it possible to successfully face the study of each case was the application of these “basic rules” of the mechanisms of cell damage learned from model systems, sometimes translating into useful contributions towards prevention or treatment. In this review, two cases are analysed in particular, which illustrate very well the need to understand in depth the mechanism of toxic action: the development of treatments for acute radiation syndrome and reproductive toxicity of alcohol. The knowledge generated also provided the possibility of training human resources and contributing to the resolution of specific problems when the country needed it. This responds to a conceptual consideration that transcends toxicology, indeed: the more the fundamental is understood, the smoother the path to the particular will be.

Keywords : Mechanisms of toxicity; Risk assessment; Oxidative stress.

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