Reversed susceptibility of lung to teratogenic insult

Abstract

The adverse effects of diverse agents on embryonic development are widely documented and the object of increasing governmental regulation and public awareness. A major impediment to protection of the unborn human is our lack of adequate fundamental knowledge of teratogenic mechanisms. Until we know how teratogens divert embryonic tissues from normal sequences of differentiation and morphogenesis into abnormal patterns, prevention of congenital defects will elude us. Experimentation on mechanisms is extremely time consuming and lacking in obvious and immediate applicability toward improved protective measures. Development of usable data will come from continued studies of younger scientists already at work in laboratories with their students¹. In spite of our limited knowledge, senior teratologists and pharmacologists have done an admirable job in guiding development of the current guidelines attempting protection of human pregnancies from teratogens. The best of efforts today cannot, however, preclude another thalido-mide-type tragedy tomorrow. The reasons for this lamentable state are largely known and surely are beyond the topic of this writing².