title: A new mammalian model system for thalidomide teratogenesis: Monodelphis domestica.
abstract: From 1957 to 1962, thalidomide caused birth defects in >10,000 children. While the drug was pulled from the market, thalidomide is currently prescribed to treat conditions including leprosy. As a result, a new generation of babies with thalidomide defects is being born in the developing world. This represents a serious problem, as the mechanisms by which thalidomide disrupts development remain unresolved. This lack of resolution is due, in part, to the absence of an appropriate mammalian model for thalidomide teratogenesis. We test the hypothesis that opossum (Monodelphis domestica) is well suited to model human thalidomide defects. Results suggest that opossum embryos exposed to thalidomide display a range of phenotypes (e.g., heart, craniofacial, limb defects) and penetrance similar to humans. Furthermore, all opossums with thalidomide defects exhibit vascular disruptions. Results therefore support the hypotheses that opossums make a good mammalian model for thalidomide teratogenesis, and that thalidomide can severely disrupt angiogenesis in mammals.
authors.affiliation: School of Integrative Biology, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.affiliation: School of Integrative Biology, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sackett
authors.affiliation: School of Integrative Biology, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.affiliation: School of Integrative Biology, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vargesson
authors.affiliation: School of Integrative Biology, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Institute for Genomic Biology, 1206 W Gregory Drive, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: ksears@life.illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sears
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D009893:Opossums; D011247:Pregnancy; D064793:Teratogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D013723:Teratogens; D013792:Thalidomide
keywords: Angiogenesis; Congenital birth defects; Limb; Teratogen