Endocrine disruptors and thyroid hormone physiology

Abstract

Endocrine disruptors are man-made chemicals that can disrupt the synthesis, circulating levels, and peripheral action of hormones. The disruption of sex hormones was subject of intensive research, but thyroid hormone synthesis and signaling are now also recognized as important targets of endocrine disruptors. The neurological development of mammals is largely dependent on normal thyroid hormone homeostasis, and it is likely to be particularly sensitive to disruption of the thyroid axis. Here, we survey the main thyroid-disrupting chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, perchlorates, and brominated flame retardants, that are characteristic disruptors of thyroid hormone homeostasis, and look at their suspected relationships to impaired development of the human central nervous system. The review then focuses on disrupting mechanisms known to be directly or indirectly related to the transcriptional activity of the thyroid hormone receptors.

ANIMAL MODELS OF DISEASE: Feline hyperthyroidism: an animal model for toxic nodular goiter

“…Chronic exposure to thyroid-disrupting compounds in the diet, drinking water, or environment may also play a role in the pathogenesis of feline thyroid nodules and hyperthyroidism, as postulated to occur in human thyroid disease (Diamanti-Kandarakis et al 2009, Jugan et al 2010, Zoeller 2010. For example, the polyphenolic compound bisphenol A, which is used as a plasticizer in can linings, has been detected in canned cat food and may act as a thyroid disruptor (Edinboro et al 2004, Schecter et al 2010.…”

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and Fish Health- A Brief Review

“…Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in the regulation of growth, development, metabolism, energy provision, reproduction and behavior in vertebrates (Jugan et al, 2010). In addition, the thyroid hormones also plays a pivotal role in the regulation of metamorphosis, either from larval to juvenile stages in marine flat fishes and eels or from adult yellow to silver eels or smoltification (Power et al, 2001).…”

Impact of Brominated POPs on the Neurodevelopment and Thyroid Hormones of Young Children in an Indoor Environment—A Review

“…Levels of BDE-28 and 207 in 25 breast milk samples have a significantly positive and negative correlation, respectively, with TSH (Zota et al, 2011). There is still a lack of reliable and consistent epidemiological data to support these findings or to make conjectures based on information extrapolated from in vivo data that PBDEs disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis (Jugan et al, 2010).…”