Proper development of fetus depends on its genetics as well as the hormonal, metabolic, and nutritional environment provided by the mother. Deficiency of thyroid hormones (THs) at birth is considered as congenital hypothyroidism and the prevalence of this disease is about 1 in 2000 to 1 in 4000 newborns; this disorder is classified into two categories of permanent and transient. Transient congenital hypothyroidism is mainly attributed to thyroid disorders in the mother during pregnancy. Permanent congenital hypothyroidism is mainly due to anomalies related to development of thyroid gland and migration.

Tab. 1. Baseline values of hemodynamic parameters in control and fetal hypothyroidism rat offspring.

Although newborn screening tests detect the fetal hypothyroidism and treatment by thyroxine is initiated promptly, this treatment does not always prevent the irreversible disorders created by TH insufficiency during fetal period.

Here, we made use of a rat model of fetal hypothyroidism (FH), which is based on administration of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil in drinking water of pregnant rats from the first day of pregnancy until delivery day (a model of transient hypothyroidism). Afterward, we evaluated the effects of this deficiency on cardiovascular system in adult male offspring. We observed decrease in hemodynamic parameters including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure in rats with fetal hypothyroidism (Tab. 1). In a previous study we could also show that heart size as well as left ventricular developed pressure and the peak rates of positive and negative changes in left ventricular pressure (indices of contractility) were lower in the isolated heart of offspring with FH.

We also examined three types of arteries (thoracic aorta, superior mesenteric and small intestine), which have specific effects on blood pressure. Our results showed that intima-media thickness (IMT) and density of nuclei of endothelial cells (ECs) are lower in aorta (Fig. 1) and superior mesenteric arteries of adult offspring with FH than in control group. Blood pressure is known to have a direct association with both IMT and ECs.

Releasing both vasoconstrictor and vasodilator agents by ECs could affect hemodynamic parameters.

Fig. 1. Histological changes in the thoracic aorta wall of rats with fetal hypothyroidism. Panels A & B show aorta section from control rats and panels C & D show this artery in the fetal hypothyroidism. The intima-media thickness is illustrated with a black arrow. Nuclei of endothelial cell and nuclei of smooth muscle cells have been indicated by a black and white rectangle respectively.

In conclusion, we assessed for the first time the FH effects on both vascular structure and function of heart. These findings show that THs are key factor in development of the cardiovascular system, and warrant paying more attention to pregnant women with hypothyroidism.

Mahboubeh Ghanbari, Asghar Ghasemi
Endocrine Physiology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences,
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Publication

Hemodynamic properties and arterial structure in male rat offspring with fetal hypothyroidism.
Ghanbari M, Bagheripuor F, Piryaei A, Zahediasl S, Noroozzadeh M, Ghasemi A
Gen Physiol Biophys. 2016 Oct

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