Development of a short-term in vivo assay for thyroid hormone disrupting activity in maternal rats and their fetuses/pups as prescreening for potential developmental neurotoxicity: Propylthiouracil and phenobarbital examples. II. Findings in maternal rats and their pups

Abstract

While thyroid hormones (THs) are essential for brain development, effects of mild suppression of maternal blood THs by hepatic enzyme inducers on the infant brain developments is not fully understood. A simple screening test for investigating whether maternal chemical exposure reduces brain THs in fetal and neonatal rats would be valuable. To verify reliability of the Comparative Thyroid Assay with additional examination of the brain, THs and histology, propylthiouracil (PTU) and phenobarbital (PB) were dosed. Clearly suppressed THs in rat pups were noted with PTU but not with PB.