Maternal hyperthyroidism increases the prevalence of foregut atresias in fetal rats exposed to adriamycin

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Fragoso AC (Author) Other; Martinez L (Author) Other; Estevão-Costa J (Author) FMUP; Tovar JA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Pediatric Surgery International

Vol. 30 No. 2

Pages: 151-157

ISSN: 0179-0358

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 5 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-5ZJ

DOI: 10.1007/s00383-013-3445-y

Abstract (EN): Gastrointestinal malformations such as esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) and duodenal atresia (DA) have been reported in infants born to hyperthyroid mothers or with congenital hypothyroidism. The present study aimed to test whether maternal thyroid status during embryonic foregut division has any influence on the prevalence of EA/TEF and DA in an accepted rat model of these malformations. Pregnant rats received either vehicle or 1.75 mg/kg i.p. adriamycin on gestational days 7, 8 and 9. Transient maternal hyper or hypothyroidism was induced by oral administration of levothyroxine (LT4, 50 mu g/kg/day) or propylthiouracil (PTU, 2 mg/kg/day), respectively, on days 7 to 12 of gestation. Plasma cholesterol, total T-3, free T-4 and TSH were measured at gestational days 7, 12, and 21. At the end of gestation, the mothers were sacrificed and embryo-fetal mortality was recorded. Fetuses were dissected to determine the prevalence of esophageal and intestinal atresias. At gestational day 12, mothers treated with LT4 or PTU had hyper or hypothyroid status, respectively; plasma cholesterol levels were similar. In the adriamycin-exposed fetuses from hyperthyroid mothers, the embryonal resorption rate and the prevalence of both EA/TEF and DA were significantly higher than in the other groups; maternal hypothyroidism during the same period did not have significant effect on the prevalence of atresias. Maternal hyperthyroidism during the embryonic window corresponding to foregut cleavage increased the prevalence of both EA/TEF and duodenal atresia in fetal rats exposed to adriamycin. This suggests that maternal thyroid hormone status might be involved in the pathogenesis of foregut atresias and invites further research on this likely clinically relevant issue in humans.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7