title: Cats, frogs, and snakes: early concepts of neural tube defects.
abstract: Disturbed neurulation fascinated scientists of all times. In Egypt, anencephalic infants were venerated as animal-headed gods. Roman law required them to be killed. The medieval world held the mother responsible, either because of assumed imagination or "miswatching," or because of suspected intercourse with animals or devils. Modern embryology and teratology began with the use of the microscope by Malpighi in 1672. Details of neural tube closure were described by Koelliker in 1861 and by His in 1874. From 1822, genetic disease and familial recurrence due to insufficient nutrition were discerned and lower social class identified as a risk factor. It took a century to define the malnutrition as insufficient folate intake. The mandatory supplementation of folate in staple foods successfully reduced the incidence of neural tube defects in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Chile, but it was not adopted by most European countries.
authors: Department of Neonatology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany. michael.obladen@charite.de
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Obladen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002415:Cats; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008488:Medical Illustration / Q000266:history; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000473:pathology; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology*; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history; D012911:Snakes