Thalidomide deformities and their nerve supply

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that thalidomide acts upon the embryonic peripheral nervous system rather than upon mesenchyme. Pregnant rabbits were given oral thalidomide (150 mg/kg/day) on Days 7-11 of gestation. Seven fetuses with partial or total absence of the tibia, five treated fetuses without deformities, and four untreated controls were photographed, radiographed, killed and fixed for histological examination. Sciatic nerves were dissected and transverse sections were taken from an identical site. Total fascicular area, myelinated fibre number, fibre density and diameter distribution were obtained. There was a significant reduction in total fascicular area, and in ..