title: Thyroid hormone deficiency disrupts rat eye neurodevelopment.
abstract: Clinical and experimental studies have highlighted the role played by thyroid hormones (TH) in neural and neuro-sensorial development. However, knowledge on TH mechanisms on the developing visual system is still incomplete. To uncover TH actions on the eyes and vision we carried out a microscopical study on the role of TH in the developing retina and optic nerve, in a rat model of controlled TH deficiency (THD). Morphometric and stereological analyses of the retina and optic nerve showed a reduction in the volume of the eye (p<0.001) and optic nerve cross-sectional area (p<0.001), and thinning of the retinal layers (p<0.001). Glial development and myelination was significantly delayed in the THD optic nerves (p<0.001), as compared to controls. The data indicate that TH play an essential role in neuro-retinogenesis. Substitutive TH therapy in critical periods, should be considered in hypothyroidism-related eye disorders as well as neurodegenerative retinal processes.
authors.affiliation: Opthalmology Research Unit "Santiago Grisolía" University Hospital Dr. Peset, Valencia, Spain. pinazo_mar@gva.es
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pinazo-Durán
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pons-Vázquez
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallego-Pinazo
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galbis Estrada
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zanón-Moreno
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vila Bou
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanz Solana
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: C107674:2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole; D007093:Imidazoles; D013963:Thyroid Hormones