Role of astaxanthin in improving the physiological and teratolgical changes of aspartame in the pregnant albino rats and their fetuses

Aim of the work: the present work was done to investigate the role of astaxanthin in ameliorating the physiological and teratological effects of aspartame on the pregnant rats and their fetuses

Materials and methods: in this study 70 virgin mature female albino rats [Wistar wistar] were used and 35 males [for mating]; pregnancy was ascertained by vaginal smearing. The pregnant rats were injected on days7, 9, 11 and 13 of gestation [organogenesis period]. The animals were divided into the following groups: animals of the first group which were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5ml saline [solvent of aspartame]; animals of the second were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 ml olive oil [solvent of astaxanthin]. The third group was divided into 2 subgroups, the pregnant rats of the first subgroup were intraperitoneally injected with aspartame [20mg./kg. body weight], the pregnant rats of the second subgroup were intraperitoneally injected with aspartame [40 mg./kg. body weight]. Pregnant rats of the 4th group were intraperitoneally injected with astaxanthin [50mg./kg. body weight] 2 hours after aspartame injection by its 2 doses

Results: aspartame at the dose of 40 mg./kg.body weight induced pre- term [early delivery]; however the 2 doses of aspartame resulted in very highly significant decrease in the mean maternal body weight, unequal horns of the uteri and unequal distribution of the fetuses between them, abnormal amount of fats surrounding the 2 horns of the uterus, regions of hemorrhage were present on the external membrane of the uteri,very highly significant uterine weight decrease, cases of abortion were noticed as well as highly significant increased resorption of the fetuses. Intraperitoneal injection with aspartame at the 2 doses resulted in fetal mortality, very highly significant fetal body weight and length decrease with a significant decrease in fetal tail length. Moreover, aspartame induced fetal morphological changes such as body diminution, exencephaly, cognition of the blood vessels in the head region and cleft lips. The skin seemed thin and fragile in the head region as well as the fore and hind regions; hematoma was obvious beside edema, clubbed fore and hind limbs, kyphosis was obvious beside hernias on some regions of the skin with hypertrophy of some fetuses and protrusion of the viscera outside the body. Aspartame exposure at the 2 doses induced highly significant increase in mean of maternal serum AST activity, very highly significant increase in mean serum GGT and serum creatinine activity

Conclusion-Treatment with astaxanthin induced obvious improvement in all of the physiological and morphological changes caused by aspartame in the pregnant rats and their fetuses

A apropriação da monstruosidade pelo saber médico / The appropriation of monstrosity by medical knowledge

O trabalho tem por objetivo descrever como o discurso em torno das deformidades é resultante de um processo, iniciado no século XIX, que deslocou o fenômeno da monstruosidade dos registros das aberrações descritas moral ou religiosamente para o campo da Biologia. A hipótese é a de que houve uma apropriação médica da monstruosidade guiada principalmente por três vetores: desenvolvimento da Teratologia como ciência; mudança das sensibilidades e o surgimento do sentimento de compaixão, estimulado em grande parte pela literatura do século XIX; e o aumento do número de pessoas deficientes, em decorrência da Primeira e da Segunda Guerras Mundiais, que levou a uma mudança na forma como as sociedades lidavam com um corpo marcado pela deformidade. Tanto a Teratologia, como a literatura foram operadores importantes no processo de conscientização sobre a humanidade dos monstros. É justamente essa transição de uma categoria social de "monstro" para a categoria social de "portador de deformidade", construída pelo saber médico, que o trabalho pretende investigar

The study aims to describe how the discourse around deformities is the result of a process that began in the nineteenth century, which shifted the phenomenon of monstrosity of records on moral aberrations morally or religiously described to the field of Biology. The hypothesis is that there was a medical appropriation of monstrosity guided by three vectors mainly: the development of Teratology as science; change of sensibilities and the emergence of the feeling of compassion, largely stimulated by the nineteenth-century literature; and increasing number of disabled people as a result of the First and Second World Wars, which led to a change in the way societies dealt with a body marked by deformity. Both Teratology, as literature were important players in the process of awareness about the humanity of monsters. It is precisely this transition from one social category of "monster" for the social category of "deformity bearer", built by the medical knowledge, this study aims to investigate

Effect of feeding graded doses of Citrinin on clinical and teratology in female Wistar rats.

Citrinin is the one of the well-known mycotoxins, which is possibly spread all over the world. The graded doses of citrinin (1, 3 and 5 ppm CIT in feed) in female Wistar rats 10 weeks prior to mating, during mating and during organogenesis resulted in resorptions and post implantation losses, decreased fetal body weights and crown-rump lengths in fetuses of all groups. Various developmental anomalies recorded in fetuses of treated rats included gross (wrist drop, curled tail, stretched forelimb, subcutaneous haematoma), skeletal (incomplete ossification of skull bones, incomplete fusion of vertebral bodies, complete and partial agenesis of sternaebrae, metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges, fused ribs and swing out ribs) and visceral (internal and external hydrocephalus, cerebellar hypoplasia, microphthalmia, roundening of heart, contracted kidneys, dilated renal pelvis and cryptorchid testes). The results suggest that CIT has adverse effects on fetal development which may be due to the longer bioavailability of citrinin in the animals.

Preventive effect of vitamin B6 on developmental toxicity of carbamazepine in mice

Carbamazepine [CBZ] is an antiepileptic drug that is used widely for the treatment of epileptic seizures. Neural tube defects [NTDs], growth retardation, and nail hypoplasia are the most common features of teratogenic effects of this drug. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin B6 on the developmental toxicity of CBZ on mice. Sixty BALB/c pregnant mice were divided into four experimental and two control groups. Two experimental groups received daily intraperitoneal [IP] of 30 mg/kg [I] or 60 mg/kg [II] of CBZ on gestational days [GD] 6 to 15. Two other experimental groups received daily IP injection of 30 mg/kg [III] or 60 mg/kg [IV] of CBZ with 10 mg/kg/day vitamin B6 by gavage 10 days prior to gestation and on GD 6 to 15. Two control groups received normal saline or Tween 20. Dams underwent Cesarean section on GD 18 and embryos were harvested. External/ macroscopic observation of fetuses was done by stereomicroscope and external examination for malformations was recorded. Data analyzed by ANOVA and X[2] test using SPSS software. The mean weight and crown-rump of the fetuses in both CBZ-treated experimental groups were significantly reduced compared with those of the control groups. Various malformations were detected such as brachygnathia, eye malformations, NTDs, vertebral deformity, brachydactyly and growth retardation. Vitamin B6 treatment significantly reduced various CBZ-induced malformations. This study showed that vitamin B6 has a preventive effect on the developmental toxicity of CBZ in mice that can be pursued further for clinical research

Nos domínios do corpo o saber médico luso-brasileiro no século XVIII / In the areas of the body: medical knowledge Luso-Brazilian in the XVIII century

O corpo, sua anatomia e funções não são algo ‘natural’, mas uma construção do saber médico; e as concepções médicas, por sua vez, estão atreladas ao universo cultural. É a partir desta constatação inicial que o autor desenvolve suas análises. Ele se debruçou sobre antigos tratados de medicina e manuais de prática médica escritos por médicos luso-brasileiros e estrangeiros. A pesquisa revela, entre outros aspectos, as diferentes vertentes do saber médico luso-brasileiro do período: o livro mostra como uma medicina recheada de aspectos mágicos e religiosos passou, sobretudo nas últimas décadas do século XVIII, a ser confrontada por conhecimentos fundamentados no experimentalismo e no racionalismo.

What is the Mother Safe Program? Background and Tasks / 대한주산의학회잡지

The anxiety of pregnant women who are receiving drug therapy is mainly caused by their misperception of the safety and risks of medications. In developed countries, teratology information services successfully provide pregnant women and their health-care providers with evidence-based teratogen information. In our country, the Korean Motherisk Program started to provide prenatal teratogen-risk counseling approximately 10 years ago first to women referred to the clinic, later by e-mail, and more recently over the telephone. The Program has also established international collaborations which propelled its capability to gain experience and obtain information on the safe use of medications in pregnancy. Since 2010, we have a unique opportunity to reduce the gap on teratogen information across our country and among medical providers including physicians, pharmacists and nurses through the Mother Safe Program supported by the Ministry for Health and Welfare. Similar to what is occurring in other developed countries, this program intends to provide pregnant women and their health-care providers with evidence-based information on their medications in order to reduce unnecessary pregnancy terminations and decrease their anxiety on the potential risks of medications prescribed during pregnancy.

Effects of Buchenavia tomentosa consumption on female rats and their offspring / Efeitos do consumo de Buchenavia tomentosa em ratas e em suas proles

Buchenavia tomentosa Eichler is a common plant in Brazilian cerrado. Fruits of this plant are employed in human feeding and folk medicine. Cattle producers affirm that consumption of the fruits cause abortion in cows, and even death. Considering that the plant may be consumed by pregnant women and animals, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible toxic effects of the ingestion of B. tomentosa fruit (10% added to the diet), from the first to the twenty-first days of gestation, on reproductive parameters and on physical and neurobehavioral development of rats offspring. An increase in food consumption at pregnancy days 11 and 17, and weight increase at day 17 of pregnancy were observed. Besides that, we verified an increase in weight of male offspring on post natal day 1. Other parameters were not affected by plant consumption. These results indicate that the consumption of B. tomentosa at 10% during pregnancy cause slight toxicological effects. The changes verified in the present study indicate toxic action of the fruit possibly induced by flavonoids with hormonal action; however, further studies must be accomplished to corroborate this hypothesis.

Buchenavia tomentosa Eichler é uma planta típica do cerrado brasileiro. Os frutos desta planta são empregados na alimentação humana e medicina popular. Criadores de bovinos afirmam que o consumo desta planta produz aborto em vacas bem como a morte destes animais. Uma vez que a planta pode ser consumida pelo homem e animais, em idade fértil e inclusive gestantes, o presente estudo avaliou os possíveis efeitos tóxicos da ingestão de dieta com 10% de frutos de B. tomentosa do primeiro ao vigésimo primeiro dia de gestação sobre os parâmetros reprodutivos e sobre o desenvolvimento físico e neurocomportamental das ninhadas de ratos. Foram observadas elevações no consumo de alimentos nos dias 11 e 17 de gestação e no peso ao dia 17 de gestação. Aumento do peso dos filhotes machos foi verificado no primeiro dia após o nascimento. Outros parâmetros não foram afetados pelo consumo da planta. Estes resultados indicam que a ingestão, durante a gestação, de uma dieta acrescida com 10% de B. tomentosa causa efeitos tóxicos leves. As alterações verificadas no presente estudo indicam ação tóxica do fruto possivelmente induzidos por flavonoides de ação hormonal; no entanto, estudos detalhados devem ser conduzidos para garantir esta hipótese.

Teratologieal effects of gamma-irradiation during three gestaional intervals in rats

The present study aimed to evaluate the teratological effects of gamma-irradiation during three intervals of gestation; pre-implantation, organogenesis and fetal periods in rats. Four groups of pregnant rats were used in this study; the first one [GI] served as control. The second [GII], third [GIII] and fourth [GIV] groups were subjected to whole body gamma-radiation at a sub-lethal single dose level of 4 Gy at the third day, 10[th] day and 14[th] day of gestation respectively. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at the 20[th] day of gestation, implantation sites, resorption, embryonic death, fetal death, growth retarded fetuses, external malformations and skeletal malformiation were recorded. The results showed that whole body gamma-irradiation caused resorption in the embryos of pregnant rats especially in those exposed during the pre-implantation period than the two other periods. The embryonic and fetal deaths were prominent in the fetuses maternally exposed to whole body gamma-irradiation during the organogenesis period. The highest percentage of growth retarded fetuses was found in fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-rays during the organogenesis period followed by fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-irradiation during the fetal period and then fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-irradiation during the pre-implantation period. The skeletal malformations as a result of gamma-irradiation were mostly represented in less ossification in the skull bones, less ossification in the vertebral centra and wavy ribs. The most affected fetal skeleton was perceptive in GIII [fetuses maternally exposed to gamma-irradiation during the organogenesis period] followed by GIl and then GIV

Effect of prion protein extract on the morphology of chick embryos with special reference to the cerebellum

Prion disease is transmitted under natural conditions and involves a variety of mechanism through multiple routes. Prion protein peptides were generated according to amino acid sequences. To study the effect of prion protein extract on the embryo using egg as a model. Thirty chickens, one-day old from Arbor acre strain were used in this study and divided into three groups. The 1[st] group was fed on basal diets and served as a control. The 2[nd] and 3[rd] groups were fed on hyperproteinized diets which contained 50% and 80% concentrates respectively. After four months of feeding, brain, spleen, heart and lung were obtained for the isolation and purification of prion protein [PrP]. The result of SDS-PAGE gel electrophoretic separation of the PrP showed that, all organs contained a major band around 29 - 30 kdt. But purification of the PrP indicated that, the only fraction contained one band in the lung, two bands in the spleen and heart and four bands in the brain. In addition, the normal sequence of isolated PrP was contained 209 amino acids. Chicken fertilized eggs from Arbor acre strain were used in this study and divided into five groups. Group A was a control group. Groups B, C, D, and E that injected with 50 micro L PrP extracted from brain, spleen, heart and lung, respectively of the adult chicken fed on diets containing 80% protein for four months. The eggs were incubated at 37.8°C for 22 days and the injection was performed in the albumin on the 1[st] day of incubation. The eggs were opened on days 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15 and 21. Embryos were collected for the morphological examination. On day 15 of incubation, the eggs were opened and the cerebellum was processed for light microscopic study. Indicated that, PrP caused delay in hatching, decreased body weight and reduced body length. The percentages of malformations in embryos were 31.5, 25, 23 and 37% post injection with PrP extracted from brain, spleen, heart and lung respectively. The congenital malformations were malformed eyes, twisting legs, syndactylia and unformed abdominal wall. Cerebellar sections of chick embryos from injected eggs with any source of tissue PrP extracts showed vacuolar degeneration of cerebellar layers. Purkinje cells lost their normal flask-shaped appearance with eccentric nuclei. It was concluded that, a single injection of PrP which was extracted from hyperproteinized fed chicken caused congenital anomalies as well as histopathological changes independent on the source of tissue PrP

Efeitos tóxicos da Ipomoea carnea em caprinos. II - Estudos de teratogenicidade / Toxic effects of the Ipomoea carnea in goats. II - Studies of teratogenicity

A Ipomoea carnea, pertencente à família das Convolvulaceae, uma planta tóxica que tem ampla distribuição pelo país, tendo como principal princípio ativo a suainsonina. É uma das poucas plantas que se conserva verde durante a seca, podendo servir como fonte de matéria verde para bovinos, ovinos e caprinos, é nesse período, quando normalmente ocorrem os casos de intoxicação, sendo a espécie caprina a mais susceptível. Até o momento, não há relatos sobre efeitos tóxicos desta planta em consequência da possível passagem transplacentária da suainsonina. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os possíveis efeitos teratogênicos da I. carnea , em caprinos. Foram usados 20 cabras, divididas em 4 grupos iguais: 3 experimentais e 1 controle. As cabras dos grupos experimentais receberam a partir do 27º dia de prenhez até o final da gestação 1,0; 5,0 e 7,5 g/kg/dia de I. carnea. Nas fêmeas gestantes foi feito o exame clínico periódico, colheita de sangue para avaliação do hemograma e bioquímica sanguínea, exames fetais ultra-sonográficos (US) e acompanhamento do parto...

Nuevo síndrome teratológico: estudio de campo (alteraciones músculo-esqueléticas) Matamoros, Tamps / New Theratologic syndrome. Camp trial. Musculo-squeletal deformities. Matamoros, Tamaulipas

Se presentan los resultados de investigación en productos de gestación de madres obreras, que trabajaron hace 20 años con solventes orgánicos, en la ciudad de Matamoros, Mex. Actualmente la edad de dicha población oscila entre 16 a 19 años, siendo en nuestro estudio un total de 12, seis masculinos y seis femeninos. Se encontró un fenotipo peculiar, cuyas principales características son alteraciones a nivel facial, ocular, de conducto auditivo externo, neurológicas, musculoesqueléticas y de lenguaje. La existencia de dicho fenotipo nos orienta a pensar en una asociación de causa a efecto. Desconocemos el mecanismo íntimo de acción de la teratogénica. La importancia de dar a conocer este hecho es para resaltar que el daño de estos pacientes es irreversible y lo esencial, tratar de prevenir nuevos casos en el futuro

Use of chick embryo in screening for teratogenicity.

A teratology screening system would detect agents hazardous to the conceptus before they can perturb embryonic development in humans. The back log of untested chemicals and the rate at which new substances enter the market exceed the developmental effects testing by standard in vivo method. Thus, cheaper, quicker in vitro systems afford a unique opportunity for investigating the direct interaction of substances with developing morphogenetic system (MGSs), since maternal influences are excluded. As a carrier of a complete set of MGSs, the chick embryo in ovo manifests an advantage over those in vitro systems that employ isolated embryos or embryonic tissues that have only limited survival. Under controlled experimental conditions including standardization of subjects, administration technique and mode of evaluation, according to the basic principles of teratology, the chick embryo test is demonstrated to be reliable and to afford quantifiable end points for evaluation. Individual compounds, mixtures of compounds and against and antagonist can easily be administered and tested. The chick embryo possesses its own basic enzyme-catalyzed drug-transformation capacity and moreover, it can be used for screening specific human metabolites. Different newer techniques e.g. chick embryotoxicity screening test (CHEST), Chick embryo blastoderm model etc are described in detail. Chick embryo fulfills all the criteria which a test should have at a lower level of tier system in teratological studies i.e. modest laboratory equipment, moderate skill, minimal expenditure of time and money, ease of accessibility of embryo, known embryological development, possibility of experimenting on a large scale for statistically valid results and whole animals are also not required.

Neurobehavioral teratology due to hypoxic exposure in newborn rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurobehavioral teratology is a term used for the postnatal effects on behavior of prenatal exposure to drug or to specific environment. Perinatal hypoxia is a major risk factor for development of behavioral abnormalities, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and learning disability. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of neonatal hypoxia on long-term changes of behavior and neurochemical system and to learn the role of 5-hyroxytryptamine(5-HT) in hypoxic stress. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped by hypoxia and/or 5-HT receptor antagonist treatment. Exposure to 100% N2 gas was done in postnatal day(PND) 2 for 12 minutes. NAN-190 HBr or ketanserin tartrate or both were injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before exposure to hypoxic environment. Rats were weighed periodically and examined the eye opening. Wire maneuver test was done on PND 22. Between PND 40-55 and PND 63-84, explorative behavior test and Rota-Rod test were done serially. They were sacrificed in PND 100, and aminergic neurotransimitters and their metabolites were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography - Electrochemical Detection(HPLC ECD) system. Receptor binding assay was done using 8-OH-DPAT and ketanserin HCl in brain cortex. RESULTS: The group treated with 5-HT receptor antagonist and hypoxia showed higher death rate than 5-HT receptor antagonist or hypoxia alone. There were no differences in weight gain, eye opening, and the result of wire maneuver test among each groups. In explorative behavior test, NAN+N2 group in male and NAN group in female showed markedly increased activities. In Rota-Rod test, NAN and NAN+N2 groups in both male and female showed decreased motor coordination. There were no differences in the concentration of aminergic neurotransmitters and their metabolites, when measured in PND 100 according to the brain sites. There were no differences in pKd of 5-HT receptors measured on PND 100. But Bmax of 5-HT1A receptor were low in N2, NAN and NAN+N2 groups. NAN and NAN+N2 groups showed elevated Bmax of 5-HT2A/2C receptor. CONCLUSION: Exposure to hypoxia in neonatal period causes long-lasting neurobehavioral changes with neurochemical abnormalities, and 5-HT receptor activity has a role in that mechanism.

Teratología en el siglo XVII-XVIII / Teratology in XVII-XVIII centuries

Es una recopilación sencilla de datos anatómicos, considerados por nuestros antecesores como "casos raros", casos que llamaron la atención a estos escritores ya sea por sus características teratológicas, o llevados por su espíritu de investigación para tratar de explicar la fisiopatología de algunas enfermedades o queriendo salir de ese oscurantismo tradicional científico-filosófico de la época o de ese espíritu adornado de la fantasía de los siglos pasados

Developmental abnormalities induced by 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] in rats

5-Fluorouracil [5-FU] was intraperitonealy injected at different doses to rats from 9[th] through the 12[th] day of gestation for determination of the optimal teratogenic dose [OTD], maximal teratogenic dose [MTD] and minimal LD[100] [MLD[100]]. OTD of 5-FU at 9[th], 10[th], 11[th] and 12[th] day of gestation was 28, 21, 22 and 24 mg/kg, respectively, while those of MTD were 34, 28, 32 and 32 mg/kg, respectively. MLD[100] of 5-FU at 9[th], 10[th], 11[th], and 12[th] day of gestation was 40, 32, 38 and 38 mg/kg, respectively, Nine groups of 10 pregnant rats each were used for revealing the developmental abnormalities induced by 5-FU When injected intraperitonealy in 2 dose levels [therapeutic and its double] on days 9, 10, 11, and 12 of pregnancy. In rats receiving 5-FU in single doses of 13.5 and 27.0 mg/kg on days 9-12 of gestation, the numbers of dead and resorbed fetuses and the post-implantation losses were significantly increased. On day 10 of gestation, the fetus is most susceptible to malformations, after which the frequency decreases proportionally to time. These malformations included growth retardation, thymus aplasia, pulmonary hypoplasia, dilatation of renal pelvis and absence of genital tubercle. Other observed skeletal anomalies were incomplete ossification of skull bones and absence of caudal verebrae, sternebrae and digits

Efecto teratogénico del virus de la encefalitis equina venezolana: una revisión del problema / The teratogenic effect of venezuelan equine encephalitis virus: a review of the problem

Se describen las características clínicas de la encefalitis equina venezolana (EEV) y la capacidad teratogénica de diversos Togavirus. Se destaca la similitud entre las alteraciones intrauterinas inducidas por el virus de la EEV y el de la rubeola. Se señalan las observaciones descritas en 1967 por Wenger sobre necrosis cerebral masiva en fetos de mujeres que presumiblemente habían padecido de encefalitis y se describe el desarrollo de un modelo experimental en ratas a finales de la década de 1970-1980. La patogenia de la infección intrauterina parece relacionarse con alteraciones vasculares placentarias y del sistema nervioso central en ratas sobrevivientes a la infección viral; se destaca la similitud entre estos hallazgos y lesiones vasculares cerebrales descritas en niños con síndrome de rubeola congénita. Se hace énfasis en la necesidad de estudios multidisciplinarios en las áreas endémicas de EEV como una vía para detectar secuelas del efecto del virus in utero. Finalmente se proponen algunos modelos experimentales en animales para esclarecer diversos aspectos sobre el efecto intrauterino provocado por el virus de la EEV

Teratologia do aparelho branquial e outras estruturas céfalo-cevicais / Teratology of branchial region and other head-neck structures

Os autores procederam a uma revisão bibliográfica, contemplando a descrição de defeitos congênitos e síndromes que afetam a organogênese do aparelho branquial e outras estruturas céfalo-cervicais

Teratological effects of zinc chloride on foetal development in albino rats

Pregnant female rats were subcutaneously injected daily with Zn Cl2 at the dose level of 0.25mg/kg b.wt from the first to the 20th day of gestation. The main characteristic effects of Zn Cl2 on the foetuses were loss of the average body weight, increased rate of growth retardation and diffusion of haematoma all over the body. Liver sections of maternally treated foetuses showed variable grades of degeneration. The nuclei of the hepatocytes have lost their vesicular appearance and the cytoplasm was vacuolated and rarefied. Moreover, necrotic areas, infiltrated by inflammatory cells were observed. The examined brain sections revealed different phases of histological alteration. The cerebral tissue had missed its normal architecture. Inflammatory cells, intermixed with fibrosis, had dominated most of the cerebral tissue. Also, slight degeneration was observed which had apparently progressed to distinct necrosis

A tragédia da talidomida e o advento da teratologia experimental / The thalidomide tragedy and the birth of experimental teratology

Avaliou-se o desenvolvimento histórico da "Tragédia da Talidomida", desde a utilizaçao inicial da droga na Alemanha Ocidental, seguindo sua comercializaçao em vários países da Europa, bem como do impedimento de sua fabricaçao nos E.U.A. Inicialmente prescrita como "autêntica panacéia" em várias áreas da prática médica, a talidomida foi amplamente consumida por gestantes, causando a maior epidemia iatrogênica da História da Medicina, a partir do final da década de 1950 até a suspeita de sua açao teratogênica, em bases epidemiológicas, por Lenz e McBride, publicada em novembro de 1961, e provocando cerca de 1O.OOO vítimas mundiais. Paralelamente ao amplo dano teratológico causado pela droga, analisou-se sua repercussao revolucionária sobre a evoluçao metodológica dos levantamentos epidemiológicos, técnicas anamnésticas e, principalmente, na avaliaçao dos efeitos embriotóxicos de novos medicamentos e agentes terapêuticas utilizados por gestantes, estabelecendo as bases modernas da Teratologia Experimental e recapitulando o desenvolvimento da Ciência em face de problemas práticos surgidos em determinados períodos históricos. Reviu-se a epidemiologia das malformaçoes congênitas de etiologia genética e causadas por agentes exógenos, principalmente aqueles representados por drogas e medicamentos responsáveis por inúmeros complexos sindrômicos malfonnativos. como o presente na síndrome da talidomida (ST). Apreciou-se a "Tragédia da Talidomida" no Brasil com base no levantamento epideniiológico contido no processo indenizatório das "Vítimas da Talidomida" brasileiras, através da sua análise histórica, desde a introduçao dos medicamentos contendo talidomida no país, sua comercializaçao e proibiçao, bem como a fundaçao de associaçoes de auxílio às "Vítimas da Talidomida". Finalmente, discutiu-se o diagnóstico diferencial da ST e de inúmeros complexos malformativos e defeitos congênitos presentes nos 252 pretendentes a indenizaçao, analisando-se o tipo e a severidade das malformaçoes, os medicamentos utilizados, a evoluçao epidemiológica e a distribuiçao geográfica dos portadores da ST no Brasil.