Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transfer of Thyroid Hormones from the Mother to the Fetus

  • Chapter
Research in Congenital Hypothyroidism

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 161))

Abstract

Impairment of thyroid function early in life results in developmental defects. The prevention of the CNS damage caused by congenital hypothyroidism is the aim which is being successfully achieved by neonatal thyroid screening programs. But CNS damage may also result from maternal hypothyroxinemia alone. Especially severe CNS damage is found in the endemic cretin of the neurological type born to iodine deficient mothers: these women are hypothyroxinemic throughout pregnancy, and their fetus has an impaired thyroid function caused by the low iodine supply. The CNS damage increases in severity from that caused by maternal hypothyroxinemia alone, congenital hypothyroidism alone, or the combined maternal and fetal impairment of thyroid function found in areas of marked iodine deficiency. But whereas the mental retardation caused by congenital hypothyroidism may still be prevented by early treatment of the newborn, the CNS damage caused by maternal hypothyroxinemia is prevented by adequate treatment during pregnancy, and the birth of neurological cretins requires adequate iodization of the mothers before conception, or very early in pregnancy. These associations between thyroid failure and CNS damage, and the experimental models used to study them, have been previously reviewed by us 1–4. These reviews contain pertinent bibliography of the abundant work on the subject carried out by many investigators.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. G. Morreale de Escobar and F. Escobar del Rey, Brain damage and thyroid hormones, in:“Neonatal Thyroid Screening”, G. N. Burrow, ed., Raven Press, New York (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  2. G. Morreale de Escobar, A. Ruiz-Marcos, and F. Escobar del Rey, Thyroid hormones and the developing brain, in: “Congenital Hypothyroidism”, J. H. Dussault and P. Walker, eds., Marcel Dekker, New York (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  3. G. Morreale de Escobar, M. J. Obregón, and F. Escobar del Rey, Fetal and maternal thyroid hormones, Horm Res 26: 12 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. G. Morreale de Escobar, C. Ruiz de Ona, M. J. Obregón, and F. Escobar del Rey, Models of fetal iodine deficiency, in: “Iodine in Neurodevelopment”, G. R. DeLong and J. Robbins, eds., Plenum Press, New York, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  5. B. Nataf and M. Sfez, Debut du fonctionnement de la thyroide foetale du rat, Compt ren Soc Biol 156: 1235 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  6. J. P. Geloso, Fonctionnement de la thyroide et correlations thyreohypophysaires chez le foetus de rat, Annales d’Endocrinologie 28: 1 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  7. R. M. Weiss and C. R. Noback, The effects of thyroxine and thiouracil on the time of appearance of ossification centers of rat fetuses, Endocrinology 45: 389 (1949).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. L. R. Sweney and B. L. Shapiro, Thyroxine and palatal development in the rat, Dev Biol 42: 19 (1975).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Hamburgh, The role of thyroid and growth hormone in neurogenesis, in: “Current Topics in Developmental Biology”, A. A. Moscona and A. Monroy, eds., Academic Press, New York, vol 4:109 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  10. D. A. Fisher, J. H. Dussault, J. Sack, and I. J. Chopra, Ontogenesis of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid function in man, sheep and rat, Rec Progr Horm Res 33: 59 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  11. D. A. Fisher, and A. K. Klein, Thyroid development and disorders of thyroid function in newborn, New Engl J Med 304: 702 (1981).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. D. A. Fisher, The unique endocrine milieu of the fetus, J Clin Invest 78: 603 (1986).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. E. Roti, A. Gnudi, and L. E. Braverman, The placental transport, synthe-Sis and Metabolism of Hormones and Drugs Which Affect Thyroid Function, Endocr Rev 4: 131 (1983).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. M. J. Obregón, G. Morreale de Escobar, and F. Escobar del Rey, Concentrations of triiodothyronine in the plasma and tissues of normal rats as determined by radioimmunoassay: Comparison with results obtained by an isotopic equilibration technique, Endocrinology 103: 2145 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. M. J. Obregón, J. Mallol, R. Pastor, G. Morreale de Escobar, and F. Escobar del Rey, Thyroxine and triiodothyronine in rat embryos before onset of fetal thyroid function, Endocrinology 114: 305 (1984).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. G. Morreale de Escobar, R. Pastor, M. J. Obregón, and F. Escobar del Rey, Effects of maternal hypothyroidism on the weight and thyroid hormone content of rat embryonic tissues, before and after onset of fetal thyroid function, Endocrinology 117: 1890 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. R. J. Woods, A. K. Sinha, and R. Ekins, Uptake and metabolism of thyroid hormones by the rat fetus in early pregnancy, Clin Sci 67: 359 (1984).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. R. Ekins, Roles of thyroxine-binding proteins and maternal thyroid hormones in development, Lancet i: 1129 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  19. J. Bernal and F. Pekonen, Ontogenesis of the nuclear 3,5,3’-triiodothyronine receptor in the human fetal brain, Endocrinology 114: 677 (1984).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. A. Pérez-Castillo, J. Bernal, B. Ferreiro, and T Pans, The early ontogenesis of thyroid hormone receptor in the rat fetus, Endocrinology 117: 2457 (1985).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. G. Morreale de Escobar, M. J. Obregón MJ, C. Ruiz de Ona, and F. Escobar del Rey, Transfer of thyroxine from the mother to the rat fetus near term: Effects on brain 3,5,3’-triiodothyronine deficiency, Endocrinology 122: 1521 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. B. Bonet and E. Herrera, Different responses to maternal hypothyroidism during the first and second half of gestation in the rat. Endocrinology 122: 450 (1988).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. E. Herrera and B. Bonet, Effect of maternal hypothyroidism during two phases of gestation on fetal growth and metabolic response to starvation in the rat, Annales d’Endocrinologie 44:17A, abstract (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  24. C. E. Hendrich, W. J. Jackson, and S. P. Porterfield, Behavioral testing of progenies of Tx (hypothyroid) and growth hormone-treated Tx rats: an animal model for mental retardation, Neuroendocrinology 38: 429 (1984).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. S. P. Porterfield and C. E. Hendrich, The effects of growth hormone treatment of thyroid-deficient pregnant rats on maternal and fetal carbohydrate metabolism, Endocrinology 99: 786 (1976).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. C. E. Hendrich, S. P. Porterfield SP, and V. A. Galton, Pituitary-thyroid function of fetuses of hypothyroid and growth hormone treated hypothyroid rats, Horm Metab Res 11: 362 (1979).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. G. W. Greenman, M. 0. Gabrielson, J. Howard-Flanders, and M. A. Wessel, Thyroid function in pregnancy. Fetal loss and follow-up evaluation of surviving infants, New Engl J Med 267: 426 (1962).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. E. B. Man and S. A. Serunian, Thyroid function in human pregnancy. IX. Development or retardation of 7-year-old progeny of hypothyroxinemic women, Am J Obst Gynecol 125: 949 (1976).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. A. J. McMichael, J. D. Potter, and B. S. Hetzel, Iodine deficiency, thyroid function and reproductive failure, in: “ Endemic Goiter and Endemic Cretinism”, J. B. Stanbury and B. S. Hetzel, eds., John Wiley & Sons, New York, (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  30. J. D. Dubois, A. Cloutier, P. Walker, and J. H. Dussault, Absence of placental transfer of L-triiodothyronine in the rat, Pediat Res 11: 116 (1977).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. J. H. Dussault and P. Coulombe, Minimal placental transfer of L-thyroxine in the rat, Pediat Res 14: 228 (1980).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. D. A. Fisher, Ontogenesis of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid function in the human fetus, in: “Pediatric Endocrinology”, F. Delange, D. A. Fisher, and P. Malvaux, eds., Karger, Basel, (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  33. D. A. Fisher, Development of fetal thyroid function and its control, in: “Iodine in Neurodevelopment”, G. R. DeLong and J. Robbins, eds., Plenum Press, New York, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  34. M. M. Grumbach and S. H. Werner, Transfer of thyroid hormone across the human placenta at term, J Clin Endocrinol 16: 1392 (1956).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. J. E. Kearns and W. Hutson, Tagged isomers and analogues of thyroxine (Their transmission across the human placenta and other studies), J Nuclear Med 4: 453 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. D. A. Fisher, H. Lehman and C. Lackey, Placental transfer of thyroxine, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 24: 393 (1964).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. S. Raiti, G. B. Holzman, R. L. Scott, and R. M. Blizzard, Evidence for the placental transfer of tri-iodothyronine in human beings. New Engl J Med 277: 456 (1967).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. J. H. Dussault, V. V. Row, G. Lickrish, and R. Volpé, Studies of serum triiodothyronine concentration in maternal and cord blood: Transfer of triiodothyronine across human placenta. J Clin Endocrinol 29: 595 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. D. A. Fisher, Panel discussion on hyperthyroidism in the pregnant woman and neonate, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 27: 1639 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  40. C. Ruiz de Ona, M. J. Obregón, G. Morreale de Escobar, and F. Escobar del Rey, Thyroid hormone economy in fetal rats after onset of fetal thyroid function, 17th Meeting of the European Thyroid Association, Montpellier, (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  41. B. Gray and V. A. Galton, The transplacental passage of thyroxine and foetal thyroid function in the rat, Acta Endocrinol (Kbhvn) 75: 725 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. F. Escobar del Rey, R. Pastor, J. Mallol, and G. Morreale de Escobar, Effects of maternal iodine deficiency on the L-Thyroxine and 3,5,3’-Triiodo-L-thyronine contents of rat embryonic tissues before and after onset of fetal thyroid function, Endocrinology 118: 1259 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. J. P. Geloso and G. Bernard, Effets de l’ablation de la thyroide maternelle ou foetale sur le taux des hormones circulantes chez le foetus de rat, Acta Endocrinol (Kbhvn) 56: 561 (1967).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. E. Knobil and J. B. Josimovich, Placental transfer of thyrotropic hormones, thyroxine, triiodothyronine and insulin in the rat, Ann NY Acad Sci 75: 895 (1959).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. S. K. Roy and Y. Kobayashi, Placental transfer of L-thyroxine and triiodo-L-thyronine in rats during late pregnancy, Proc Soc Exper Biol Med 110: 699 (1962).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. F. Comite, G. N. Burrow, and E. C. Jorgensen, Thyroid hormone analogs and fetal goiter, Endocrinology 102: 1670 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. G. Morreale de Escobar, M. J. Obregón, C. Ruiz de Ona, Comparison of maternal to fetal transfer of T3 versus T4 in rats, as assessed by T3 levels in fetal tissues, Annales d’Endocrinologie 48:178A, abstract (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  48. R. Calvo, C. Ruiz de Ona, M. J. Obregón, F. Escobar del Rey, and G. Morreale de Escobar, Differential effects of maternal T4 and T3 on hypothyroid rat fetal tissues, 17th Meeting of the European Thyroid Association, Montpellier,(1988).

    Google Scholar 

  49. P. W. Dickson, A. R. Aldred, J. G. T. Menting, P. D. Marley, W. H. Sawyer, and G. Schreiber, Thyroxine transport in choroid plexus, J Biol Chem 262: 13907 (1987).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. D. A. Price, R. M. Erlich, and P. G. Walfish PG, Congenital hypothyroidism. Clinical and laboratory characteristics in infants detected by neonatal screening, Arch Dis Child 56: 845 (1981).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. J. Letarte and S. La Franchi, Clinical features of congenital hypothyroidism, in: “Congenital Hypothyroidism”, J. H. Dussault and P. Walker, eds., Marcel Dekker, New York, (1983).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad de Endocrinología Experimental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, C.S.I.C., Facultad de Medicina, Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain

    Gabriella Morreale de Escobar, María Jesús Obregón & Francisco Escobar del Rey

Authors
  1. Gabriella Morreale de Escobar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. María Jesús Obregón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francisco Escobar del Rey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium

    François Delange  & Daniel Glinoer  & 

  2. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Torrance, California, USA

    Delbert A. Fisher

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

de Escobar, G.M., Obregón, M.J., del Rey, F.E. (1989). Transfer of Thyroid Hormones from the Mother to the Fetus. In: Delange, F., Fisher, D.A., Glinoer, D. (eds) Research in Congenital Hypothyroidism. NATO ASI Series, vol 161. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7580-7_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7580-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-7582-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-7580-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation