The effect of thalidomide on mandibular development is unclear. In this study, thalidomide was delivered to pregnant rabbits from the 8th to 14th day of gestation. Then, embryos were harvested for examination on the 16th day (GD16), 20th day (GD20) and 24th day (GD24) of gestation. The results showed obvious hemorrhage and hematoma on one side of the craniofacial region in 50% of the thalidomide-treated embryos and obvious hemorrhage and hematoma on both sides of the craniofacial region in 50% of the thalidomide-treated embryos at GD16. Histological examination showed soft tissues and mandible defects on the affected side of the maxillofacial region. The expression of Vegf-α, Ki67 and Sox9 on the affected side was significantly down-regulated in comparison to their expression on the unaffected side at GD20. There was also an obvious defect in the affected mandible, and the density of the skull and mandible was decreased compared to the unaffected side or the control group at GD24. These findings demonstrated that thalidomide may lead to hemorrhage and hematoma in the craniofacial region by inhibiting angiogenesis, resulting in the abnormal development of cranial neural crest cells that are involved in the normal development of the mandible in rabbits.

中文翻译：

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沙利度胺通过抑制兔胎儿颅面区血管生成和继发性出血导致下颌骨发育不全

沙利度胺对下颌发育的影响尚不清楚。在本研究中，沙利度胺在妊娠第 8 天至第 14 天被给予怀孕的兔子。然后，在妊娠第 16 天 (GD16)、第 20 天 (GD20) 和第 24 天 (GD24) 收获胚胎进行检查。结果显示在GD16时，50%的沙利度胺处理的胚胎在颅面部一侧有明显的出血和血肿，50%的沙利度胺处理的胚胎在颅面两侧有明显的出血和血肿。组织学检查显示颌面部患侧的软组织和下颌骨缺损。Vegf-α、Ki67 和 Sox9 在 GD20 时与未受影响侧的表达相比，受影响侧的表达显着下调。GD24时患侧下颌骨也有明显缺损，颅骨和下颌骨密度较健侧或对照组降低。这些发现表明沙利度胺可能通过抑制血管生成导致颅面部出血和血肿，导致参与兔下颌正常发育的颅神经嵴细胞发育异常。