Impact of iodine excess exposure during pregnancy and/or lactation on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis activity in rat dams and their offspring

• Grant number: 12/24391-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: October 03, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Maria Tereza Nunes
• Grantee: Caroline Serrano Do Nascimento
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/16695-3 - Effect of iodine excess exposure on thyroid development and differentiation through epigenetic mechanisms using embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Iodine is essential for thyroid hormones synthesis and an important regulator of thyroid function. Both iodine deficiency and excess promote alterations on thyroid function, which can cause serious consequences for individuals, especially during fetal and neonatal periods. Although there are many controversial results, some studies have shown that pregnant women undergoing rich iodine diet generated newborns with goiter and cognitive impairment, probably due to hypothyroidism. Intrauterine and lactation periods are important phases of the development in which hormonal, neuronal and nutritional disturbances may influence gene expression programming in adulthood, through epigenetic mechanisms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the consequences of iodide excess during pregnancy and lactation periods on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis of pregnant rats and their offspring, after weaning (21 days) and in adult life (75 days). The animals will be treated with iodide excess (5X, 50X and 100X the physiological dose) throughout pregnancy and/or lactation. After these treatments, the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid and other tissues of the dams and their male offspring (21 and 75 days) will be used in: immunohistochemistry assays, Real-Time PCR and Western Blotting analysis of genes involved in the HPT axis activity, analysis of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Moreover, we will also evaluate if iodide excess is able to program the offspring gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, as DNA methylation, posttranslational modifications of histones and miRNAs expression. This evaluation is original and innovative, and certainly will contribute and clarify the molecular basis involved in the iodide excess effects in critical periods of development.

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SERRANO-NASCIMENTO, CAROLINE; SALGUEIRO, RAFAEL BARRERA; VITZEL, KAIO FERNANDO; PANTALEAO, THIAGO; CORREA DA COSTA, VANIA MARIA; NUNES, MARIA TEREZA. Iodine excess exposure during pregnancy and lactation impairs maternal thyroid function in rats. ENDOCRINE CONNECTIONS, v. 6, n. 7, p. 510-521, OCT 1 2017. (12/24391-6, 13/05629-4)

SERRANO-NASCIMENTO, CAROLINE; SALGUEIRO, RAFAEL BARRERA; PANTALEAO, THIAGO; CORREA DA COSTA, VANIA MARIA; NUNES, MARIA TEREZA. Maternal Exposure to Iodine Excess Throughout Pregnancy and Lactation Induces Hypothyroidism in Adult Male Rat Offspring. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 7, NOV 15 2017. (12/24391-6, 13/05629-4)

CALIL-SILVEIRA, JAMILE; SERRANO-NASCIMENTO, CAROLINE; KOPP, PETER ANDREAS; NUNES, MARIA TEREZA. Iodide excess regulates its own efflux: a possible involvement of pendrin. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY, v. 310, n. 7, p. C576-C582, APR 1 2016. (12/24391-6, 10/05503-2, 09/17834-6, 12/13011-8)

SERRANO-NASCIMENTO, CAROLINE; CALIL-SILVEIRA, JAMILE; DALBOSCO, RAFAEL; ZORN, TELMA TENORIO; NUNES, MARIA TEREZA. Evaluation of hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis function by chronic perchlorate exposure in male rats. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, v. 33, n. 2, p. 209-219, FEB 2018. (12/24391-6)

SERRANO-NASCIMENTO, CAROLINE; MORILLO-BERNAL, JESUS; ROSA-RIBEIRO, RAFAELA; NUNES, MARIA TEREZA; SANTISTEBAN, PILAR. Impaired Gene Expression Due to Iodine Excess in the Development and Differentiation of Endoderm and Thyroid Is Associated with Epigenetic Changes. THYROID, v. 30, n. 4, JAN 2020. (13/05629-4, 12/24391-6, 16/18517-8, 15/16695-3)

SERRANO-NASCIMENTO, CAROLINE; SALGUEIRO, RAFAEL BARRERA; VITZEL, KAIO FERNANDO; PANTALEAO, THIAGO; CORREA DA COSTA, VANIA MARIA; NUNES, MARIA TEREZA. Iodine excess exposure during pregnancy and lactation impairs maternal thyroid function in rats. ENDOCRINE CONNECTIONS, v. 6, n. 7, p. 12-pg., 2017-10-01. (13/05629-4, 12/24391-6)