Evaluation of in vivo fish and amphibian endocrine test guideline assays: current status and future needs

The HESI Global Next Generation Ecological Risk Assessment Committee is proud to share a new publication in collaboration with the UK's NC3Rs: “Evaluation of in vivo fish and amphibian endocrine test guideline assays: current status and future needs” (Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Burden et al., 2025).

In this review, the authors assess the scientific robustness, limitations, and regulatory relevance of internationally recognized in vivo test guidelines used to evaluate endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in fish and amphibians. These test methods, including the Fish Short-Term Reproduction Assay (FSTRA), Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay (AMA), Medaka Extended One-Generation Reproduction Test (MEOGRT), and Larval Amphibian Growth and Development Assay (LAGDA), are used for safeguarding ecosystems and informing regulatory decisions. However, the paper highlights key challenges that limit their broader applicability, such as variability in performance data, limited historical control datasets, and the complexity of meeting stringent acceptance criteria.

Importantly, the authors offer a path forward. The paper identifies future research needs, including refining guideline designs, expanding performance data, and integrating New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to strengthen the scientific and regulatory foundation of ecological endocrine testing.

This publication reinforces HESI Global’s mission to collaboratively advance science for a safer, more sustainable world and underscores the importance of international coordination and innovation in ecological risk assessment.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgaf064
🔗 Learn more about the HESI EcoRisk Committee