Thalidomide, a potent teratogen causing limb defects in humans, has been found to inhibit angiogenesis in a rabbit cornea micropocket assay. The study, conducted by D'Amato et al., demonstrated that oral administration of thalidomide significantly reduced the area of vascularized cornea by 36% to 51% after two doses. This inhibition was correlated with the teratogenicity of thalidomide but not with its sedative or mild immunosuppressive properties. Electron microscopic examination revealed specific ultrastructural changes in the corneal neovascularization of thalidomide-treated rabbits, similar to those observed in deformed limb bud vasculature in thalidomide-treated embryos. These findings suggest that thalidomide's teratogenicity may be due to its inhibition of blood vessel growth in the developing fetal limb bud. The study also explored the potential use of thalidomide as an orally administered drug for treating diseases dependent on angiogenesis, such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and solid tumors.Thalidomide, a potent teratogen causing limb defects in humans, has been found to inhibit angiogenesis in a rabbit cornea micropocket assay. The study, conducted by D'Amato et al., demonstrated that oral administration of thalidomide significantly reduced the area of vascularized cornea by 36% to 51% after two doses. This inhibition was correlated with the teratogenicity of thalidomide but not with its sedative or mild immunosuppressive properties. Electron microscopic examination revealed specific ultrastructural changes in the corneal neovascularization of thalidomide-treated rabbits, similar to those observed in deformed limb bud vasculature in thalidomide-treated embryos. These findings suggest that thalidomide's teratogenicity may be due to its inhibition of blood vessel growth in the developing fetal limb bud. The study also explored the potential use of thalidomide as an orally administered drug for treating diseases dependent on angiogenesis, such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and solid tumors.