Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1995 Jan 1;482(Pt 1):203–213. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1995.sp020510

The effects of thyroid hormones on oxygen and glucose metabolism in the sheep fetus during late gestation.

A L Fowden 1, M Silver 1
PMCID: PMC1157764  PMID: 7730983

Abstract

1. The effects of thyroid hormones on fetal metabolism during late gestation were examined by measuring the rates of glucose and oxygen utilization rates in chronically catheterized sheep fetuses made hypothyroid by either fetal thyroidectomy (TX) or hypophysectomy (HX). The values were compared with those in intact fetuses and in thyroxine (T4)-treated TX and HX fetuses. 2. Umbilical O2 uptake expressed on a weight-specific basis was reduced by 20-30% in the hypothyroid fetuses and was restored to normal values when plasma T4 levels were maintained in the TX and HX fetuses by exogenous T4 administration. 3. The low O2 consumption rates of the untreated hypothyroid fetuses were accompanied by fetal growth retardation, an abnormal blood gas status, and in the TX fetuses, by significant reductions in the rates of glucose oxidation, CO2 production from glucose carbon and O2 utilization for glucose oxidation. 4. When T4 levels were maintained in the TX fetuses, these metabolic rates and fetal blood gas status were restored to their normal values. Replacement of T4 also sustained growth in TX but not in HX fetuses. 5. When the data from all fetuses were combined irrespective of treatment, there were significant positive correlations between plasma levels of T4 (but not triiodothyronine (T3)) and the rates of umbilical O2 uptake, glucose oxidation, CO2 production from glucose carbon and O2 utilization for glucose oxidation in the individual fetuses. 6. These findings demonstrate that T4 is a physiological regulator of O2 utilization by the sheep fetus close to term.

Full text

PDF
203

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barnes R. J., Comline R. S., Silver M. The effects of bilateral adrenalectomy or hypophysectomy of the foetal lamb in utero. J Physiol. 1977 Jan;264(2):429–447. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp011676. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bergman E. N., Brockman R. P., Kaufman C. F. Glucose metabolism in ruminants: comparison of whole-body turnover with production by gut, liver, and kidneys. Fed Proc. 1974 Jul;33(7):1849–1854. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Blunt M. H., Kitchens J. L., Mayson S. M., Huisman T. H. Red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and oxygen affinity in newborn goats and sheep. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1971 Dec;138(3):800–803. doi: 10.3181/00379727-138-35992. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brent G. A., Moore D. D., Larsen P. R. Thyroid hormone regulation of gene expression. Annu Rev Physiol. 1991;53:17–35. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ph.53.030191.000313. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Browne C. A., Thorburn G. D. Endocrine control of fetal growth. Biol Neonate. 1989;55(6):331–346. doi: 10.1159/000242937. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chopra I. J., Sack J., Fisher D. A. 3,3',5'-Triiodothyronine (reverse T3) and 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) in fetal and adult sheep: studies of metabolic clearance rates, production rates, serum binding, and thyroidal content relative to thyroxine. Endocrinology. 1975 Nov;97(5):1080–1088. doi: 10.1210/endo-97-5-1080. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dauncey M. J. Thyroid hormones and thermogenesis. Proc Nutr Soc. 1990 Jul;49(2):203–215. doi: 10.1079/pns19900024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Erenberg A., Omori K., Menkes J. H., O W., Fisher D. A. Growth and development of the thyroidectomized ovine fetus. Pediatr Res. 1974 Sep;8(9):783–789. doi: 10.1203/00006450-197409000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fowden A. L. Effects of arginine and glucose on the release of insulin in the sheep fetus. J Endocrinol. 1980 Apr;85(1):121–129. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0850121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Fowden A. L., Hay W. W., Jr The effects of pancreatectomy on the rates of glucose utilization, oxidation and production in the sheep fetus. Q J Exp Physiol. 1988 Nov;73(6):973–984. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1988.sp003231. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Fraser M., Liggins G. C. Thyroid hormone kinetics during late pregnancy in the ovine fetus. J Dev Physiol. 1988 Oct;10(5):461–471. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Geloso J. P., Bernard G. Effets de l'ablation de la thyroïde maternelle ou foetale sur le taux des hormones circulantes chez le foetus de rat. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1967 Dec;56(4):561–566. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Harding J. E., Jones C. T., Robinson J. S. Studies on experimental growth retardation in sheep. The effects of a small placenta in restricting transport to and growth of the fetus. J Dev Physiol. 1985 Dec;7(6):427–442. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Harper M. E., Ballantyne J. S., Leach M., Brand M. D. Effects of thyroid hormones on oxidative phosphorylation. Biochem Soc Trans. 1993 Aug;21(3):785–792. doi: 10.1042/bst0210785. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hay W. W., Jr, DiGiacomo J. E., Meznarich H. K., Hirst K., Zerbe G. Effects of glucose and insulin on fetal glucose oxidation and oxygen consumption. Am J Physiol. 1989 Jun;256(6 Pt 1):E704–E713. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1989.256.6.E704. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hay W. W., Jr, Myers S. A., Sparks J. W., Wilkening R. B., Meschia G., Battaglia F. C. Glucose and lactate oxidation rates in the fetal lamb. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1983 Sep;173(4):553–563. doi: 10.3181/00379727-173-41686. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hay W. W., Jr, Sparks J. W., Quissell B. J., Battaglia F. C., Meschia G. Simultaneous measurements of umbilical uptake, fetal utilization rate, and fetal turnover rate of glucose. Am J Physiol. 1981 Jun;240(6):E662–E668. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1981.240.6.E662. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hopkins P. S., Thorburn G. D. The effects of foetal thyroidectomy on the development of the ovine foetus. J Endocrinol. 1972 Jul;54(1):55–66. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0540055. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. JOST A., PICON L., JACQUOT R. Influence de la thyroïdectomie du foetus de lapin sur sa croissance et sur la teneur de son foie en lipides et en glycogène. J Physiol (Paris) 1958 Mar;50(2):335–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Jost A. Fetal hormones and fetal growth. Contrib Gynecol Obstet. 1979;5:1–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kerr G. R., Tyson I. B., Allen J. R., Wallace J. H., Scheffler G. Deficiency of thyroid hormone and development of the fetal rhesus monkey. I. Effect on physical growth, skeletal maturation and biochemical measures of thyroid function. Biol Neonate. 1972;21(3):282–295. doi: 10.1159/000240516. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Lorijn R. H., Nelson J. C., Longo L. D. Induced fetal hyperthyroidism: cardiac output and oxygen consumption. Am J Physiol. 1980 Sep;239(3):H302–H307. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1980.239.3.H302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Meschia G., Battaglia F. C., Bruns P. D. Theoretical and experimental study of transplacental diffusion. J Appl Physiol. 1967 Jun;22(6):1171–1178. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1967.22.6.1171. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Mesiano S., Young I. R., Baxter R. C., Hintz R. L., Browne C. A., Thorburn G. D. Effect of hypophysectomy with and without thyroxine replacement on growth and circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factors I and II in the fetal lamb. Endocrinology. 1987 May;120(5):1821–1830. doi: 10.1210/endo-120-5-1821. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Meznarich H. K., Hay W. W., Jr, Sparks J. W., Meschia G., Battaglia F. C. Fructose disposal and oxidation rates in the ovine fetus. Q J Exp Physiol. 1987 Oct;72(4):617–625. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1987.sp003102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Nathanielsz P. W., Comline R. S., Silver M., Thomas A. L. Thyroid function in the foetal lamb during the last third of gestation. J Endocrinol. 1973 Sep;58(3):535–546. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0580535. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Owens J. A., Falconer J., Robinson J. S. Effect of restriction of placental growth on oxygen delivery to and consumption by the pregnant uterus and fetus. J Dev Physiol. 1987 Apr;9(2):137–150. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Parkes M. J., Bassett J. M. Antagonism by growth hormone of insulin action in fetal sheep. J Endocrinol. 1985 Jun;105(3):379–382. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1050379. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Robinson P. M., Comline R. S., Fowden A. L., Silver M. Adrenal cortex of fetal lamb: changes after hypophysectomy and effects of Synacthen on cytoarchitecture and secretory activity. Q J Exp Physiol. 1983 Jan;68(1):15–27. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1983.sp002697. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Rurak D. W., Gruber N. C. Increased oxygen consumption associated with breathing activity in fetal lambs. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1983 Mar;54(3):701–707. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1983.54.3.701. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Snyder L. M., Reddy W. J. Mechanism of action of thyroid hormones on erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid synthesis. J Clin Invest. 1970 Nov;49(11):1993–1998. doi: 10.1172/JCI106419. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Sparks J. W., Hay W. W., Jr, Bonds D., Meschia G., Battaglia F. C. Simultaneous measurements of lactate turnover rate and umbilical lactate uptake in the fetal lamb. J Clin Invest. 1982 Jul;70(1):179–192. doi: 10.1172/JCI110591. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Spencer G. S., Hallett K. G., Beermann U., Macdonald A. A. Changes in the levels of growth hormones, insulin, cortisol, thyroxine and somatomedin-C/IGF-1, with increasing gestational age in the fetal pig, and the effect of thyroidectomy in utero. Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol. 1989;93(2):467–472. doi: 10.1016/0300-9629(89)90068-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Stevens D., Alexander G. Lipid deposition after hypophysectomy and growth hormone treatment in the sheep fetus. J Dev Physiol. 1986 Apr;8(2):139–145. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Thomas A. L., Krane E. J., Nathanielsz P. W. Changes in the fetal thyroid axis after induction of premature parturition by low dose continuous intravascular cortisol infusion to the fetal sheep at 130 days of gestation. Endocrinology. 1978 Jul;103(1):17–23. doi: 10.1210/endo-103-1-17. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Timiras P. S., Nzekwe E. U. Thyroid hormones and nervous system development. Biol Neonate. 1989;55(6):376–385. doi: 10.1159/000242941. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Wintour E. M., Smith M. B., Bell R. J., McDougall J. G., Cauchi M. N. The role of fetal adrenal hormones in the switch from fetal to adult globin synthesis in the sheep. J Endocrinol. 1985 Jan;104(1):165–170. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1040165. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES