Prenatal programming of adult thyroid function by alcohol and thyroid hormones.
Increasing evidence associates environmental challenges early in life with permanent alterations of physiological functions in adulthood. These changes in fetal environment can trigger physiological adaptations by the fetus, called fetal programming, which may be beneficial before birth but permanently influence the physiology of the organism. In this study, we investigated the potential connection between alcohol-induced decreased maternal thyroid function and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) function of adult rat offspring. Plasma 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)), thyroxine (T(4)), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were decreased in alcohol-consuming (E) dams on gestational day 21 compared with ad libitum- (C) and pair-fed (PF) controls. No significant differences were found in HPT function in young offspring (3 wk of age) between diet groups. However, adult fetal alcohol-exposed (FAE) offspring had significantly decreased levels of T(3) along with elevated TSH compared with control offspring. T(4) administration to the mother did not normalize the hypothyroid state of the adult FAE offspring. Interestingly, administration of T(4) to control pregnant dams decreased plasma T(3) of the adult female offspring only, whereas T(4) together with maternal alcohol consumption or pair-feeding led to decreased TSH and T(4) in the adult female offspring. Our results suggest that ethanol consumption and T(4) administration alter maternal HPT function, leading to prenatally programmed permanent alterations in the thyroid function of the adult offspring.
Wilcoxon
Jennifer Slone
JS
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Medical School, The Asher Center, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. jwilcoxo@bsd.uchicago.edu
Redei
Eva E
EE
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012737:Sex Factors; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects
D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D000431:Ethanol; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine; D003345:Corticosterone