Thyroid Hormone, Iodine and Human Brain Evolution

Venturi, S.; Bégin, Michel E.

doi:10.1002/9780470609880.ch6

Cited by 11 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that the consumption of aquatic flora is important for ensuring sufficient uptake of certain minerals like iodine (Hohmann et al, 2019). Iodine is essential for numerous physiological and developmental functions, including brain development, due to its influence on thyroid function (Venturi and Bégin, 2010). It can be abundant in a diversity of ecosystems, such as coastal and volcanic areas, as well as wetlands (Hohmann et al, 2019).…”

Section: Trade-offs Between Aquatic and Terrestrial Foragingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost-Benefit Trade-Offs of Aquatic Resource Exploitation in the Context of Hominin Evolution

et al. 2022

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While the exploitation of aquatic fauna and flora has been documented in several primate species to date, the evolutionary contexts and mechanisms behind the emergence of this behavior in both human and non-human primates remain largely overlooked. Yet, this issue is particularly important for our understanding of human evolution, as hominins represent not only the primate group with the highest degree of adaptedness to aquatic environments, but also the only group in which true coastal and maritime adaptations have evolved. As such, in the present study we review the available literature on primate foraging strategies related to the exploitation of aquatic resources and their putative associated cognitive operations. We propose that aquatic resource consumption in extant primates can be interpreted as a highly site-specific behavioral expression of a generic adaptive foraging decision-making process, emerging in sites at which the local cost-benefit trade-offs contextually favor aquatic over terrestrial foods. Within this framework, we discuss the potential impacts that the unique intensification of this behavior in hominins may have had on the evolution of the human brain and spatial ecology.

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Section: Trade-offs Between Aquatic and Terrestrial Foragingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost-Benefit Trade-Offs of Aquatic Resource Exploitation in the Context of Hominin Evolution

et al. 2022

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“…Removal of the thyroid gland in frog tadpoles leads to brain atrophies, whereas engraftment of an additional thyroid gland increased brain expansion so much that the cranium sometimes bursts (Rey, 1948), reviewed in Venture and Bégin (2010) and Borensztejn (2005). However, these studies should be considered with caution as the experimental design and technical possibilities may have been extremely limited during that time and up to date, neither genetic nor pharmaceutical manipulation of thyroid hormones and their receptors could confirm the findings by Roth and Rey in the 1940s in tadpoles.…”

Section: Potential Role Of Iodine and Thyroid Hormone In Hominid Evolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The continuous consumption of high levels of thyroid hormones and iodine may have altered thyroid hormone rhythms, i.e., the concentration and/or periodic extent of maternal thyroid hormone contribution in the offspring, and induced changes in brain growth of the fetus. These modifications in embryo brain architecture may have been sufficient to stimulate brain expansion concomitant with a prolongation of fetal development, thereby extending the duration of neurogenesis and leading the way to the emergence of H. habilis (reviewed in Venture and Bégin, 2010; Venturi, 2011). H. habilis invaded more open habitats with abundant mammalian species, as dietary resources.…”

Section: Potential Role Of Iodine and Thyroid Hormone In Hominid Evolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increased consumption of dietary iodine and thyroid hormones may have triggered further shifts in thyroid hormone rhythms and promoted reproduction. Shore-based habitats further positively influenced iodine intake, and selection pressure would have favored individuals with thyroid hormone rhythms adapted to function best in new environmental conditions and habitats (for details see Crockford, 2003; Venture and Bégin, 2010). …”

Section: Potential Role Of Iodine and Thyroid Hormone In Hominid Evolmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, alteration in thyroid hormone concentration and availability (i.e., environmental changes and iodine accessibility) could translate into physiological and developmental responses in the offspring (thereby, connecting individuals without direct genetic modification) leading to effective genetic variations in the offspring that, in turn, mediates speciation events (i.e., expansion of brain size; Crockford, 2003, 2009; Venture and Bégin, 2010). Thyroid hormones, in particular T3 act via nuclear THRs to regulate gene expression, including nerve and epidermal growth factors that are crucial regulators of brain development (Giordano et al, 1992; Venture and Bégin, 2010). Additionally, many genes are involved in cell cycle exit and differentiation, and in controlling growth and development.…”

Section: Potential Role Of Iodine and Thyroid Hormone In Hominid Evolmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Role of maternal thyroid hormones in the developing neocortex and during human evolution

Stenzel¹,

Huttner²

2013

Front. Neuroanat.

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The importance of thyroid hormones during brain development has been appreciated for many decades. In humans, low levels of circulating maternal thyroid hormones, e.g., caused by maternal hypothyroidism or lack of iodine in diet, results in a wide spectrum of severe neurological defects, including neurological cretinism characterized by profound neurologic impairment and mental retardation, underlining the importance of the maternal thyroid hormone contribution. In fact, iodine intake, which is essential for thyroid hormone production in the thyroid gland, has been related to the expansion of the brain, associated with the increased cognitive capacities during human evolution. Because thyroid hormones regulate transcriptional activity of target genes via their nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (THRs), even mild and transient changes in maternal thyroid hormone levels can directly affect and alter the gene expression profile, and thus disturb fetal brain development. Here we summarize how thyroid hormones may have influenced human brain evolution through the adaptation to new habitats, concomitant with changes in diet and, therefore, iodine intake. Further, we review the current picture we gained from experimental studies in rodents on the function of maternal thyroid hormones during developmental neurogenesis. We aim to evaluate the effects of maternal thyroid hormone deficiency as well as lack of THRs and transporters on brain development and function, shedding light on the cellular behavior conducted by thyroid hormones.

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