title: Developmental iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism reduce phosphorylation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II in the rat entorhinal cortex.
abstract: Iodine is essential for the synthesis of triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄). Iodine deficiency leads to inadequate thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism induced by iodine deficiency during gestation and postnatal period leads to cognitive deficits in learning and memory. However, the mechanism underlying these deficits is unclear. Calcium-dependent calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) known as a potential memory molecule regulates important neuronal functions including learning and memory. Recent studies have shown that hypothyroidism alters phosphorylation of CaMKII in hippocampus or even in sympathetic ganglia of rats. Though the entorhinal cortex (EC) is an important functional structure within the neuronal network responsible for learning and memory, little is known about the effect of hypothyroidism on phosphorylation of CaMKII in the EC. Here, we report that iodine deficiency and propylthiouracil treatment through gestation and lactation reduce phosphorylation of CaMKII in the EC of pups. The increase of calcineurin, as well as reduction of neurogranin and calmodulin, may account for the reduced phosphorylation of CaMKII induced by developmental iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism. These findings in the EC may contribute to understanding the mechanisms that underlie impairment of learning and memory induced by developmental iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Hongde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000201:enzymology*; D018728:Entorhinal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology*; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency*; D007858:Learning; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D007455:Iodine; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2