Ricerc@Sapienza

A clinical association between thyroid dysfunction and pregnancy complications has been extensively reported, however the molecular mechanisms through which TH might regulate key-events of pregnancy have not been elucidated yet. In this respect, we performed in vivo studies in MMI- induced hypothyroid pregnant mice, evaluating the effect of hypothyroidism on the number of implantation sites, developing embryos/resorptions and pups per litter, at 4.5, 10.5, 18.5 days post coitum (dpc) and at birth.

Thyroid hormones are important for the development of the central nervous system. Since the fetal thyroid gland is not functioning until mid-gestation, transport of maternal thyroid hormones across the placenta is essential during the early phases of gestation. Maternal thyroid deficiency has been associated with a higher incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in the newborns. The relationship between maternal hypothyroidism and the onset of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring, however, is still debated.