What is a target organ?
A target organ is an organ where the major toxicity is induced by chemicals. Various organs such as the liver, kidney, lungs, heart, reproductive systems, and more can act as target organs, playing crucial roles in bodily functions. In environmental and occupational health, target organs for toxic exposures are commonly the lungs, kidney, and liver. The liver, for instance, is frequently a target organ due to its vulnerability to damage from toxic substances, especially in experimental animal studies. Understanding why certain chemicals exhibit "organ selectivity" in inducing toxicity is a key question raised by the susceptibility of organs like the liver and kidney to xenobiotic toxicity. Target organs are pivotal in toxicology studies as they help identify the specific organs affected by harmful substances.
Answers from top 5 papers
Papers (5) | Insight |
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A target organ is a specific organ in the body, such as the liver, kidney, lungs, or heart, that is susceptible to damage from exposure to toxic chemicals or substances. | |
The liver is a target organ for toxicity due to its metabolic capabilities and vulnerability to damage from toxic compounds, particularly highlighted by carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity. | |
A target organ is a specific organ in the body that is vulnerable to the effects of toxic exposures, such as the lungs, kidneys, and liver in environmental and occupational health. | |
A target organ is a specific organ susceptible to toxicity, such as the kidney, heart, lung, male and female reproductive systems, eye, inner ear, and endocrine pancreas, as discussed in the paper. | |
A target organ is where major toxicity occurs due to chemicals. This chapter introduces general organ toxicity, leading to detailed coverage of specific organ toxicity in subsequent chapters. |