Rat fetuses were paralyzed by daily transuterine injections of curare from day 18 of gestation
until term (day 21). The following anomalies were noted at the time of delivery: multiple joint
contractures, pulmonary hypoplasia, micrognathia, fetal growth retardation, short umbilical
cords, and polyhydramnios. Neither sham-operated nor untouched littermate control fetuses
had any of these anomalies. The group of anomalies (or deformation sequence) obtained
with this animal model is presumed to result from the paralytic effect of curare. This …