What causes teratogenesis?

Causes of teratogenesis can broadly be classified as: Toxic substances, such as, for humans, drugs in pregnancy and environmental toxins in pregnancy. Potassium iodide is a possible teratogen. Potassium iodide in its raw form is a mild irritant and should be handled with gloves.

What is teratogenesis in pharmacology?

Teratogenicity is the ability of a drug to cause fetal abnormalities or deformities.

How do teratogenic drugs work?

Teratogenic drugs: A teratogen is an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation (a birth defect). Classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal infections, chemicals, and drugs.

What is an example of teratogenesis?

Common teratogens include some medications, recreational drugs, tobacco products, chemicals, alcohol, certain infections, and in some cases, uncontrolled health problems in the birthing parent. Alcohol is a well-known teratogen that can cause harmful effects on the fetus after exposure at any time during pregnancy.

Who discovered teratogenesis?

The latter part of the twentieth century saw the discovery of many teratogens. In 1941, Sir Norman Gregg (1892–1968) discovered the human rubella virus as the first human teratogen; exposure in utero led to heart defects and congenital cataracts.

Which vitamin is responsible for teratogenesis?

Conclusions. High dietary intake of preformed vitamin A appears to be teratogenic. Among the babies born to women who took more than 10,000 IU of preformed vitamin A per day in the form of supplements, we estimate that about 1 infant in 57 had a malformation attributable to the supplement.

What is teratogenesis?

Teratogenesis is a prenatal toxicity characterized by structural or functional defects in the developing embryo or fetus.

What is teratogenesis science?

Teratogenesis is the creation of a deformed organism. A teratogen is any agent that physically or chemically alters developmental processes and produces congenital deformities.

What are the causes and effects of teratogenic drugs?

Teratogenic drugs and birth defects

• ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.
• angiotensin II antagonist.
• isotretinoin (an acne drug)
• alcohol.
• cocaine.
• high doses of vitamin A.
• lithium.
• male hormones.

What is the major determinant of the teratogenic potential of a drug?

This response at a given dosage is sometimes defined as teratogenic (or developmental toxic) severity and is dependent on exposure conditions. The factors that induce congenital malformations are termed the “teratogenic factors”; they include infectious, physical, chemical, hormonal, and maternal health factors.

What is the mechanism of action of thalidomide?

First established as agents with antiangiogenic properties, thalidomide and IMiDs inhibit the production of interleukin (IL)-6, which is a growth factor for the proliferation of myeloma cells. In addition, they activate apoptotic pathways through caspase 8-mediated cell death.

How does retinoic acid cause teratogenesis?

There are thirty-eight human Hox genes. In embryos exposed to excess retinoic acid, the Hox gene malfunction, which thereby disrupts the genetic control of body shape (axial patterning) in a developing embryo.

What is teratogenesis in biology?

Teratogenesis is the creation of a deformed organism. A teratogen is any agent that physically or chemically alters developmental processes and produces congenital deformities. The nature of the teratogen and developmental stage during which the alteration occurs is critical to the type and severity of abnormality it will produce.

What are the effects of teratogenic exposure?

Exposure of an embryo, fetus, or larva to a teratogen may result in death, structural malformation, functional disorder, or growth retardation. The most commonly described teratogenic effects occurring in ecosystems are external malformations.

What are teratogens and how do they affect wildlife?

Mechanical disruptors, environmental factors, and chemical contaminants are the primary categories of teratogens affecting wildlife species. Exposure of an embryo, fetus, or larva to a teratogen may result in death, structural malformation, functional disorder, or growth retardation.

Is retinoic acid teratogenic in zebrafish?

Teratogenic effects have been reported in zebrafish for two isomers of retinoic acids, all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and 9-cis RA, with stronger effects for the latter (Zhang et al., 1996).