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Teratology is the study of abnormalities of physiological development in organisms during their life span. It is a sub-discipline in medical genetics which focuses on the classification of congenital abnormalities in dysmorphology caused by teratogens and also in pharmacology and toxicology.
Susceptibility to teratogenesis varies with the developmental stage at the time of exposure to an adverse influence. There are critical periods of susceptibility to agents and organ systems affected by these agents. Teratogenic agents act in specific ways on developing cells and tissues to initiate sequences of abnormal developmental events.
Teratogens are substances that may cause birth defects via a toxic effect on an embryo or foetus. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Teratogens . See also the categories Carcinogens and Mutagens
Teratogens are classified in four main categories: Drugs in pregnancy – in addition to environmental chemicals, includes recreational drug use and pharmaceutical drugs. Vertically transmitted infections; Radiation, such as X-rays; Mechanical forces, such as oligohydramnios; Teratogens affect the fetus by various mechanism including:
The international pictogram for chemicals that are sensitising, mutagenic, carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction. In genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that permanently changes genetic material, usually DNA, in an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level.
The effect of the developmental toxicants depends on the type of substance, dose, duration, and time of the exposure. The first few weeks of embryogenesis in humans is more susceptible to these agents. The embryogenesis is the most crucial time for the action of any teratogenic substances to result in birth defects.
Lenalidomide is related to thalidomide, which is known to be teratogenic. Tests in monkeys suggest that lenalidomide is likewise teratogenic. [27] It cannot be prescribed for people who are pregnant or who are likely to become pregnant during therapy. [1]
The primary mechanism of action of thalidomide and its analogs in both their anti-cancer and teratogenic effects is now known to be as cereblon E3 ligase modulators. [ 25 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] Thalidomide also binds to and acts as an antagonist of the androgen receptor and hence is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen of some capacity. [ 30 ]