Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Teratogen-induced limb defects.

Lewis B Holmes1

  • 1Genetics and Teratology Unit, Pediatric Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. holmes.lewis@mgh.harvard.edu

American Journal of Medical Genetics
|October 3, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparative Analysis of Morphological and Acoustic Correlates of Bush-Cricket Tympanic Membranes.

Computational and structural biotechnology journal·2026
Same author

Convergent evolution of harmonic hopping: multiple origins of high-frequency calls in crickets.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Prevalence of major structural congenital abnormalities detected on infant surface examination in Botswana, 2014-2022: a birth outcomes surveillance study.

BMJ paediatrics open·2026
Same author

The Effects of Diet on the Expression of Male Dimorphic Colouration and Weaponry in a Species of Neotropical Katydid.

Ecology and evolution·2025
Same author

Elective Terminations Because of Fetal Abnormalities: Findings in A Tertiary Maternity Center Over 41 Years (1972-2012).

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2025
Same author

Changes in wing resonance in dried preserved crickets.

Royal Society open science·2024
Same journal

Abstracts for the Xth World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics. Brussels, Belgium, 9-13 October 2002.

American journal of medical genetics·2003
Same journal

Defects of blastogenesis.

American journal of medical genetics·2002
Same journal

Malformations of the craniofacial region: evolutionary, embryonic, genetic, and clinical perspectives.

American journal of medical genetics·2002
Same journal

Limb anomalies: Developmental and evolutionary aspects.

American journal of medical genetics·2002
Same journal

Molecular etiology of gut malformations and diseases.

American journal of medical genetics·2002
Same journal

Status of the human malformation map: 2002.

American journal of medical genetics·2002
See all related articles

Human teratogens cause limb abnormalities through various mechanisms, including altered limb development and vascular disruption. Thalidomide uniquely causes limb duplication or deficiency, while the molecular basis for these defects remains largely unknown.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Toxicology
  • Teratology
  • Human Embryology

Background:

  • Limb abnormalities are common visible effects of human teratogen exposure.
  • Teratogens impact limb development through distinct mechanisms, affecting morphogenesis or causing vascular disruption.
  • Specific limb defects vary among teratogens, with thalidomide exhibiting unique effects like polydactyly or thumb absence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the known effects of human teratogens on limb development.
  • To differentiate between teratogenic mechanisms impacting limb morphogenesis versus vascular disruption.
  • To highlight the unique limb defect profile of thalidomide and the challenges in studying other teratogens.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of teratogenic agents and their documented effects on human limb development.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Categorization of teratogenic effects based on the stage of limb development affected (morphogenesis vs. vascular disruption).
  • Analysis of specific teratogens (e.g., thalidomide, warfarin, phenytoin, valproic acid, misoprostol) and their associated limb abnormalities.

    • Main Results:

    • Teratogens like thalidomide, warfarin, phenytoin, and valproic acid affect limb morphogenesis.
    • Vascular disruption affecting normally formed limbs is caused by agents such as misoprostol and procedures like chorionic villus sampling.
    • Thalidomide is unique in causing limb duplication (polydactyly) or deficiency (hypodactyly); other teratogens' effects are less specific or harder to confirm.
    • Establishing objective exposure and specific limb defects for common teratogens like alcohol and cocaine remains challenging.
    • The molecular underpinnings of teratogen-induced limb defects are largely unelucidated.

    Conclusions:

    • Human teratogens induce a spectrum of limb abnormalities through diverse mechanisms.
    • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for identifying and mitigating risks during pregnancy.
    • Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular basis of teratogen-induced limb defects.