A quantitative ultrastructural study of motor and sensory lumbosacral nerve roots in the thalidomide-treated rabbit fetus

Abstract

A quantitative electron microscopic study was conducted on the dorsal and ventral nerve roots (L7-S1) supplying the hindlimbs of control and thalidomidetreated rabbit fetuses. The ventral roots at segmental levels L7 and SI of treated nondeformed fetuses (TND) and deformed fetuses, demonstrated significant reductions (20-30%) of four of the parameters measured; total fasciculararea (TFA), myelinated axon number (AN), Schwann cell counts (SCQ and axoplasmic area. In the dorsal roots of treated animals, thalidomide affected primarily segmental level S2, where significant reductions (15-30%) were observed in three parameters (TFA, AN, SCQ. The occurrence of significant reductions in these measu..