[Decrease in the ascorbic acid content of guinea pig tissues caused by thalidomide]

It has been demonstrated that thalidomide is capable of a noticeable stabilization of the enzymes from rabbit, pig and guinea-pig liver microsomal fractions. Administration of thalidomide to guinea-pigs resulted in an increase of microsomal hydroxylase activity measured by the aniline test. The growth of the activity of microsomal enzymes led to an abrupt drop of ascorbic acid concentration in guinea-pig organs. It is suggested that thalidomide has a teratogenic action on the species which are incapable of the synthesis of ascorbic acid by making this vitamin deficiency in embryonal tissues. Probably, it is the deficiency of ascorbic acid that inhibits the synthesis of collagen in embryonal limbs and disturbs their sensory ganglia.