Abstract
Summary
Thalidomide produced encephalocele, eyelid defects and beak defects in a significant percentage of chick embryos inoculated into the amnion with the drug at 3 through 6 days incubation. No defects of this type were observed in control embryos inoculated with saline. However 4 other selected compounds which, like the thalidomide, remained in an undissolved state in the amniotic cavity after inoculation, produced the same types of defects. These compounds were sand, ground glass, colloidal alumina and colloidal attapulgus clay. In addition the last 2 produced severe twisting and distortion of the axis and appendages of the embryos, with increased incidence of ectopic viscera.
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