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Iodine and the Body

 

Iodide and Brain (CNS)

BERNAL

 

Iodine and brain development.

Bernal J.

Biofactors. 1999;10(2-3):271-6. Review.

[abstract only]

 

"The development of the brain is critically dependent on an adequate supply of iodine. Iodine is an integral part of thyroid hormone, which acts on brain development by regulating the expression of target genes. The active thyroid hormone, T3, is generated in part in the thyroid gland, but about 80% of T3 in brain is formed locally from T4 deiodination mainly by the action of a specific iodothyronine deiodinase. This enzyme is highly expressed in astrocytes, which take up T4 from the blood and deliver T3 for neuronal use. In the target cells T3 binds to nuclear receptors which are transcription factors. The T3 receptors are expressed in the brain before fetal thyroid gland function and may be activated by maternal thyroid hormone during midgestation. Although a group of thyroid hormone target genes has been identified in recent years, many basic questions of thyroid hormone action in the brain remain to be elucidated."

 

 

Thyroid hormones and brain development.

Bernal J.

Vitam Horm. 2005;71:95-122. Review.

[abstract only]

 

"The action of thyroid hormones (thyroxine, T4; triiodothyronine, T3) on brain development and function is gaining renewed interest. It has been known for many years that thyroid hormones are very important in mammalian brain maturation, influencing many aspects related to neural cell migration, differentiation, and signaling. In the last 10 years, genes regulated by thyroid hormones have been identified in the rodent brain, and understanding of the role of thyroid hormone nuclear receptors has been facilitated with the analysis of the phenotype of mutant mice for the different receptor isoforms. The general picture that emerges is that T4 and T3 may enter the brain through specific transporters. T4 is converted to the active hormone, T3, in glial cells, astrocytes, and tanycytes, although the main target cells are neurons and maturing oligodendrocytes. T3, acting through the nuclear receptors, controls the expression of genes involved in myelination, cell differentiation, migration, and signaling. In addition to transducing the T3 signal, the nuclear receptors also have activity in the unliganded state (i.e., as aporeceptors), mainly as repressors of transcription. The physiological meaning of aporreceptor action is not known, but they may play a role in the genesis of the hypothyroid phenotype. Among the questions that remain to be explored in more detail is the role of thyroid hormones and the T3 receptors, both liganded and unliganded, in the fetal brain, especially before onset of fetal thyroid gland function. These questions are relevant for human health and the management of thyroid diseases during pregnancy."

 

 

The significance of thyroid hormone transporters in the brain.

Bernal J.

Endocrinology. 2005 Apr;146(4):1698-700.

 

"The developing brain is an important target of thyroid hormones. A complex regulatory network involving transfer of thyroid hormones through the brain barriers, interactions between neurons and glial cells, and deiodinase expression, works to deliver the appropriate amount of T3 to the nuclear receptors. The data provided by Heuer et al. in this issue indicates that specific thyroid hormone transporters may also be an essential part of this regulatory system."

 

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