Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroid hormones increase foetal and adult metabolic rates, and, in adult tissues, increase mitochondrial biogenesis. Foetal tri-iodothyronine (T3) concentrations rise towards term in preparation for the increased postnatal energy demands but whether they affect mitochondrial development remains unknown. This study examined mitochondrial development in skeletal muscle of thyroid hormone deficient sheep foetuses near term.At 105–110 days (...

Thyroid hormones are important regulators of fetal growth, although their mechanism of action remains unclear. In the sheep fetus, thyroid hormone deficiency increases plasma insulin and leptin concentrations. This study investigated the effects of hypothyroidism on perirenal adipose tissue (PAT) development and adipose insulin signalling pathways in fetal sheep.All procedures were performed under the UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In 10 tw...

Thyroid hormones are important regulators of fetal growth, although their mechanism of action remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of hypothyroidism on pancreatic β-cell development in foetal sheep.All procedures were carried out under the UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Under general anaesthesia between 105 and 110 days of gestation (days; term ~145 days), one twin fetus was thyroidectomised (TX), while the other was sha...