European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP)
    European Society of Toxicologic Pathology
Nomenclature and Standardization

INHAND - International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic criteria for lesions in rats and mice

Since 2006 the ESTP is involved in the INHAND project, with the target to standardize the nomenclature and diagnostic criteria for rats and mice in toxicologic pathology. INHAND is a global collaboration project of the major ToxPath societies, ESTP, STP, BSTP, and JSTP.

The Global Editorial and Steering Committee (GESC) is guiding the activities of the organ working groups (Summary of Standard Operating Procedures). The GESC is composed of toxicologic pathologists from all of the participating societies.

Each Organ Working Group is composed of expert toxicologic pathologists from each of the participating societies and are responsible for developing preferred nomenclature and diagnostic criteria.

For information of the members of the ToxPath societies and online access to the current status of the nomenclature the goRENI - the global open RENI system – is used. goRENI is the standard reference for nomenclature and diagnostic criteria in toxicologic pathology and at the same time the Internet discussion platform for the global initiative "INHAND" - the International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic criteria. The final documents are published and printed in journals of the participating ToxPath societies.

After completion of a draft for the nomenclature of an organ system by an Organ System Working Group, the draft and images are initially reviewed by the GESC and then posted on goRENI. The ESTP and the other memberships are then asked to comment the draft within a period of 60 days. After the comment period is completed, the OWG will discuss the comments and prepare a final draft. This final draft is posted on goRENI.

Visit www.goRENI.org for more details. ESTP members have free access to the nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, images, minutes of the GESC committee, general documents, member lists of the organ working groups, and much more. In order to access the site, a member must first register by going to goRENI.

Published INHAND Guides
  • Proliferative and Nonproliferative Lesions of the Respiratory Tract of the Rat and Mouse.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 37, No. 7) [doi:10.1177/0192623309353423]

  • Proliferative and Nonproliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Hepatobiliary System.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 38, No. 7) [doi:10.1177/0192623310386499]

  • Proliferative and Nonproliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Urinary System.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 40, No. 4) [doi:10.1177/0192623312438736]

  • Proliferative and Nonproliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 40, No. 4) [doi:10.1177/0192623312439125]

  • Proliferative and Nonproliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Mammary, Zymbal's, Preputial, and Clitoral Glands.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 40, No. 6) [doi:10.1177/0192623312454242]

  • Proliferative and Nonproliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Male Reproductive System.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 40, No. 6) [doi:10.1177/0192623312454337]

  • Proliferative and Non-Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Soft Tissue, Skeletal Muscle and Mesothelium.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 26, No. 3) [doi:10.1293/tox.26.1S]

  • Proliferative and Non-Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Integument.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 26, No. 3) [doi:10.1293/tox.26.27S]

  • Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Female Reproductive System.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 27, No. 3&4) [doi:10.1293/tox.27.1S]

  • Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Pancreas and Salivary Glands of the Rat and Mouse.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 29, No. 1) [doi:10.1293\tox.29.1S]

  • Recommendations from the INHAND Apoptosis/Necrosis Working Group.
    (Toxicologic Pathology 44: 173–188) [doi:10.1177/0192623315625859]

  • Non-proliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Cardiovascular System of the Rat and Mouse.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 29, No. 3) [doi:10.1293/tox.29.3S-1]

  • Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Skeletal Tissues (Bones, Joints, and Teeth).
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 29, No. 3) [doi:10.1293/tox.29.3S-2]

  • Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Endocrine System.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 31, No. 3) [doi:10.1293/tox.31.1S]

  • Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Special Sense Organs (Ocular [eye and glands], Olfactory and Otic).
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 31, No. 3) [doi:10.1293/tox.31.97S]

  • Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Rat and Mouse Hematolymphoid System.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, 47: 665–783) [doi:10.1177/0192623319867053]

Updates

  • Proliferative and nonproliferative lesions of the rat and mouse central and peripheral nervous systems: New and revised INHAND terms.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, 48(7): 827–844) [doi:10.1177/0192623320951154]

Published Non-Rodent INHAND Guides
  • International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND): Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Dog.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, 49(1): 5–109) [doi:10.1177/0192623320968181]

  • International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND): Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Minipig.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, 49(1): 110–228) [doi:10.1177/0192623320975373]

  • International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND): Non-proliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Non-human Primate (M. fascicularis).
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, 34(3 Suppl): 1S–182S) [doi:10.1293/tox.34.1S]

  • International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND): Nonproliferative and Proliferative Lesions of the Rabbit.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, 34(3 Suppl): 183S–292S) [doi:10.1293/tox.34.183S]

INHAND Documents
  • INHAND proposal prepared by ESTP and RITA members.

  • International Harmonization of Toxicologic Pathology Nomenclature: An Overview and Review of Basic Principles.
    (Toxicologic Pathology, Supplement to Vol 40, No. 4) [doi:10.1177/0192623312438738]

  • International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND): Progress to Date and Future Plans.
    (Journal of Toxicologic Pathology 28: 51–53) [doi:10.1293/tox.2014-0049]
    (Toxicologic Pathology 43: 730–732) [doi:10.1177/0192623314560031]

History

In cooperation of numerous ESTP members and the RITA Group ("Registry of Industrial Toxicology Animal-data") much progress has been obtained in the process of an international harmonization and standardization of nomenclature and diagnostic criteria of proliferative lesions as well as of other issues of toxicologic pathology. Please use the links below to obtain more information.

  • Nomenclature and diagnostic criteria
    Initiated by the RITA Group, the nomenclature and diagnostic criteria of proliferative lesions in rats and mice was standardized and has been published by WHO/IARC. More details on these books and on the electronic version WebRENI as well as on the harmonization process with the colleagues of the STP is given here.

  • Revision of Standardized Nomenclature: September 2005
    The chair of the ESTP has contacted the President and Past-President as well as the chairman of the SRPC (Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee) of the STP in response to a draft proposal for the revision of standardized nomenclature for lesions in the rat and mouse and has offered a close co-operation in this important process. Please read more ...

  • Standardization of organ sampling and trimming
    The "Revised guides for organ sampling and trimming in rats and mice" were recently published by the RITA and NACAD groups in Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology in a series of 3 articles.