title: A critical review of the McCredie-McBride hypothesis of neural crest influence on limb morphogenesis.
abstract: A number of hypotheses have been presented to explain the mechanism of action of thalidomide. The most widely published and apparently widely accepted hypothesis is that of embryonic neuropathy advanced by McCredie and McBride. This paper reviews the points of the hypothesis and analyzes it in light of known limb embryology supported with recent experimental evidence which directly tests the hypothesis. The hypothesis may be considered as being composed of two separate parts. The first part proposes that thalidomide-induced limb defects exhibit a segmental pattern. The second proposes that the segmental pattern of limb defects is a result of segmental peripheral neuropathy. We are in complete agreement with the first portion of the hypothesis, but find the second portion quite unlikely.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002648:Child; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000187:drug effects*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide