Effects of Prenatal Stress Exposure on Stress Neurohormonal Axis in Rat Pups of Thyroid Disturbed Mothers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt

2 Department of Physiology, Egyptian Russian University, ,Egypt,

3 Department of physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt.

4 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt.

Abstract

Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is common. Maternal thyroid dysfunction is associated with an 
increased risk of various adverse maternal and child outcomes, including miscarriage, intrauterine 
growth retardation, hypertensive disorders, preterm delivery, and a decreased child IQ. During 
pregnancy, profound changes in thyroid physiology occur to provide sufficient thyroid hormone (TH) 
to both the mother and fetus. There is growing evidence demonstrating that thyroid hormone affects 
the various components of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis Therefore, this study was 
designed to investigate that maternal Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy impaired feedback 
mechanisms of the HPA- axis and associated with thyroid disorders and neurobiological alterations in 
off sprigs. Therefore, 42 female wistar rats (200-250gm) after induction of pregnancy and 
hyperthyroxinemia and hypothyroxinemia. Their pups were divided into twelve groups (control nonstressed group, control stressed group hyperthyroid non-stressed group, treated non-stressed group,
hyperthyroid stressed group, treated stressed group) and (control non-stressed group, control stressed 
group, hypothyroid non-stressed group, treated non-stressed group, control stressed group, 
hypothyroid stressed group, treated stressed group). Measurement of some hormones and histological 
analyses were done and result the induction of hyperthyroidism in mothers was significantly increased 
of plasma T4 and increased of plasma TSH levels in all pups group compared with control group.
ACTH and Corticosterone increased in stressed group compared to other groups. In addition, 
hyperthyroid group showed small amount of colloid with irregular structure and architecture of the 
thyroid gland compared with treated and control group. Also induction of hypothyroidism in mothers 
was significantly decreased of plasma T4 and decreased of plasma TSH levels in all pups group 
compared with control group. ACTH and Corticosterone increased in stressed group compared to 
other groups. In addition, hyperthyroid group showed small amount of colloid with irregular structure 
and architecture of the thyroid gland compared with treated and control group, While that in the 
hypothyroid group; the amount of colloid increased and the height and activity of the follicular 
epithelium decreased, where as in the treated group the amount of colloid increased (abundant 
basophilic colloid) and the height and activity of the follicular epithelium increased. In conclusion, the 
effects of maternal stress exposure during pregnancy on HPA-axis regulation and anxiety-like 
behavior can be transferred via the maternal line to its offspring.

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