Luteal activity of pregnant rats with hypo-and hyperthyroidism

Abstract

BackgroundLuteal activity is dependent on the interaction of various growth factors, cytokines and hormones, including the thyroid hormones, being that hypo- and hyperthyroidism alter the gestational period and are also a cause of miscarriage and stillbirth. Because of that, we evaluated the proliferation, apoptosis and expression of angiogenic factors and COX-2 in the corpus luteum of hypo- and hyperthyroid pregnant rats.MethodsSeventy-two adult female rats were equally distributed into three groups: hypothyroid, hyperthyroid and control. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism were induced by the daily administration of propylthiouracil and L-thyroxine, respectively. The administration began five days before becoming pregnant and the animals were sacrificed at days 10, 14, and 19 of gestation. We performed an immunohistochemical analysis to evaluate the expression of CDC-47, VEGF, Flk-1 (VEGF receptor) and COX-2. Apoptosis was evaluated by the TUNEL assay. We assessed the gene expression of VEGF, Flk-1, caspase 3, COX-2 and PGF2α receptor using real time RT-PCR. The data were analyzed by SNK test.ResultsHypothyroidism reduced COX-2 expression on day 10 and 19 (P < 0.05), endothelial/pericyte and luteal cell proliferation on day 10 and 14 (p < 0.05), apoptotic cell numbers on day 19 (p < 0.05) and the expression of Flk-1 and VEGF on day 14 and 19, respectively (p < 0.05). Hyperthyroidism increased the expression of COX-2 on day 19 (P < 0.05) and the proliferative activity of endothelial/pericytes cells on day 14 (p <0.05), as well as the expression of VEGF and Flk-1 on day 19 (P < 0.05).ConclusionsHypothyroidism reduces the proliferation, apoptosis and expression of angiogenic factors and COX-2in the corpus luteum of pregnant rats, contrary to what is observed in hyperthyroid animals, being this effect dependent of the gestational period.

Endothelial Functioning and Hemodynamic Parameters in Rats with Subclinical Hypothyroid and the Effects of Thyroxine Replacement

“…The control rats received physiological saline via gavage. During the 3-month period, body weight was measured daily, and the serum thyroid hormone level was measured every two weeks to ensure that the serum thyroxine (T4) level was not decreased [ 36 , 37 ]. Because triiodothyronin (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels are within normal range in SCH rats, monitoring T4 levels can reflect thyroid hormone levels.…”

[Retracted] Glucosamine Supplementation in Premating Drinking Water Improves Within‐Litter Birth Weight Uniformity of Rats Partly through Modulating Hormone Metabolism and Genes Involved in Implantation

“…One microgram of RNA was reverse transcribed with RevertAid 1st Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit ( ermo, USA). e sequence of the primers is supplied in Table S3 [11][12][13], including specific genes ALK3, BMP2, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Mucin-1, iNOS, and β-actin. Gene expression of β-actin in each sample was quantified as a control.…”

Distribution of thyroid hormone and thyrotropin receptors in reproductive tissues of adult female rabbits

“…In hyper or hypothyroid rats and even in granulosa cell culture, thyroid hormones and TSH participate in the proliferation and functions of granulosa cells (34). These hormones also regulate the follicular development (35)(36) and the formation and maintenance of the corpus luteum (3)(4).…”