Prenatal induced chronic dietary hypothyroidism delays but does not block adult-type Leydig cell development

Rijntjes, Eddy; Swarts, Hans J.M.; Anand-Ivell, Ravinder; Teerds, Katja J.

Abstract

Transient hypothyroidism induced by propyl-2-thiouracyl blocks postpartum Leydig cell development. In the present study, the effects of chronic hypothyroidism on the formation of this adult-type Leydig cell population were investigated, using a more physiological approach. Before mating, dams were put on a diet consisting of an iodide-poor feed supplemented with a low dose of perchlorate and, with their offspring, were kept on this diet until death. In the pups at day 12 postpartum, plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were increased by 20-fold, whereas thyroxine and free tri-iodothyronine levels were severely depressed, confirming a hypothyroid condition. Adult-type progenitor Leydig cell formation and proliferation were reduced by 40-60% on days 16 and 28 postpartum. This was followed by increased Leydig cell proliferation at later ages, suggesting a possible slower developmental onset of the adult-type Leydig cell population under hypothyroid conditions. Testosterone levels were increased 2- to 10-fold in the hypothyroid animals between days 21 and 42 postpartum compared with the age-matched controls. Combined with the decreased presence of 5α-reductase, this implicates a lower production capacity of 5α-reduced androgens. In 84-day-old rats, after correction for body weight-to-testis weight ratio, plasma insulin-like factor-3 levels were 35% lower in the hypothyroid animals, suggestive of a reduced Leydig cell population. This is confirmed by a 37% reduction in the Sertoli cell-to-Leydig cell ratio in hypothyroid rats. In conclusion, we show that dietary-induced hypothyroidism delays but, unlike propyl-2-thiouracyl, does not block the development of the adult-type Leydig cell population. Copyright © 2009 the American Physiological Society.

Citation

Rijntjes, E., Swarts, H. J., Anand-Ivell, R., & Teerds, K. J. (2009). Prenatal induced chronic dietary hypothyroidism delays but does not block adult-type Leydig cell development. AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 296(2), E305-E314. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.90750.2008

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 25, 2008
• Online Publication Date: Feb 1, 2009
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Jun 15, 2021
• Journal: American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Print ISSN: 0193-1849
• Electronic ISSN: 1522-1555
• Publisher: American Physiological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 296
• Issue: 2
• Pages: E305-E314
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.90750.2008
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3176571
• Publisher URL: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.90750.2008