Journal of Andrology Testis Workshop 2009
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Published-Ahead-of-Print July 3, 2008, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.108.005108

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Dietary Induced Hyperthyroidism Marginally Affects Neonatal Testicular Development

Eddy Rijntjes , Anna T. Wientjes , Hans J.M. Swarts , Dirk G. de Rooij , and Katja J. Teerds *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: katja.teerds{at}wur.nl.

The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary induced mild fetal/neonatal hyperthyroidism influenced the initiation of spermatogenesis and the development of the adult-type Leydig cell population. Previously, the effects of neonatally induced hyperthyroidism have been investigated in rats using rather high doses (5 to 10 µg/100 g body weight) of tri-iodothyronine (T3), which not only influenced testicular development, but also negatively affected the general body condition of the animals. To induce hyperthyroidism the diet of the dams was supplemented with 15 µg thyroxine (T4)/100 g body weight two weeks prior to mating and the dams and their offspring were kept on this diet until sacrifice. Pups were killed between days 7 and 64 after birth. At the age of 12 days plasma thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels tended to be lower in hyperthyroid pups, while from the age of 15 days onwards plasma TSH levels were significantly lower in hyperthyroid animals. Concomitantly, plasma T4 levels were significantly elevated. From the age of 12 days onwards, plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were lower in hyperthyroid animals compared to age-matched control groups. Sertoli cell differentiation did not seem to be influenced by the mild hyperthyroid condition, as no difference in tubule lumen formation was observed between euthyroid and hyperthyroid animals. Nevertheless, a small effect on the progression of spermatogenesis was observed 15 days after birth, as the most advanced type of germ cells in the control testis were pachytene spermatocytes, while in the hyperthyroid testis these were leptotene and zygotene spermatocytes. Leydig cell proliferation was decreased in the hyperthyroid pups at the age of 15 days and slightly elevated at later ages, suggesting a possible slower onset of the proliferative activity of these cells than in the euthyroid control animals. Taken together, the present results suggest that even mild dietary induced hyperthyroidism transiently affects the development of the adult-type Leydig cell population as well as the initial progression of spermatogenesis.


Key words: Hormone • Spermatogenesis • Steroidogenesis • Testis




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 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
E. Rijntjes, H. J. M. Swarts, R. Anand-Ivell, and K. J. Teerds
Prenatal induced chronic dietary hypothyroidism delays but does not block adult-type Leydig cell development
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2009; 296(2): E305 - E314.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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