Abstract
Cerebral structural and metabolic changes have been associated with reduced fetal and perinatal thyroid function in several species. In the present study several indices of neuronal function were assessed in lambs who were thyroidectomized at 64-67 days of gestational age. RNA synthesis measured by the rate of C14 orotic acid incorporation into nuclear RNA from six samples each of several brain regions did not differ for the cerebral cortex of hypothyroid (T4=4.1 ± 1.2 μg/ml TSH=37.5 ± 10.1 ng/ml) as compared with euthyroid (T4=9.2 ± 1.4; TSH=3.1 ± 1.2) lambs; mitochrondrial RNA synthesis was significantly reduced in the thalamus and hypothalamus (12%; p <.02) and in the cerebellar cortex (18%; p <.02) of hypothyroid animals. Protein synthesis, measured by incorporation of C14 leucine into synaptosomal protein, was significantly reduced in the hypothyroid lambs; in presynaptic nerve endings from the cerebral cortex (32%; p<.01), thalamus and hypothalamus (17%, p<.02) and cerebellar cortex (53%; p<.01). The cellular and synaptic changes attending perinatal hypothyroidism are reflected in regional changes in the synthesis of macromolecules relevant to effective cerebral functions.
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Essman, E., Ayromlooi, J., Essman, W. et al. 403 CEREBRAL RNA AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN NEONATAL SHEEP BRAIN: EFFECTS OF FETAL THYROIDECTOMY. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 507 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00414
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00414
