Abstract MP202: The Effects Of Maternal Hypothyroidism On Fetal And Adult Cardiac Function

Abstract

Objectives: Maternal hypothyroidism (MH), a common clinical condition with a reported prevalence from 2.5% to 13%. MH could have an adverse effect on fetal cardiac development and adult heart function. However, there is a lack of systematic research for its effect on fetal and offspring’s development and cardiac function. This study aimed to determine the impact of MH on fetal and offspring’s organ structural and functional development at different gestation stages and during postnatal and puberty. Methods: MH model had been built through thyroidectomy (TX) with total thyroxine (TT4) under 1ng/dl after surgery. Pups from mice that underwent TX and Sham surgery were named THD (Deficient) and THN (Normal). Times of parturition and miscarriage from TX and Sham groups were recorded. Ultrasound was performed for fetuses and/or offspring to check the gestation, miscarriage, embryo arrest, development, malformation, and cardiac function. At different postnatal days, mice were euthanized for organ development evaluation. Result: TX mice had reduced parturition frequencies and smaller litter size but increased miscarriage frequency and malformed fetuses than the sham group. In addition, THD fetuses had smaller biparietal diameter (BPD) and abdominal circumference (AC) and significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on E14.5, but not at E18.5. Tei index, a parameter representing both systolic and diastolic cardiac function, was lower in THD fetuses than in THN fetuses at both E14.5 and E18.5. The cardiac systolic and diastolic function of female TX mice after a 9-month breeding period was also abnormal. The Postnatal T4 level was not significantly different between the two groups. On and after d21 after birth, THD mice had a higher heart weight/body weight ratio and lower LVEF still d21. Conclusion: MH impaired the development and cardiac function of the fetus and young adult. In addition, MH impaired the mother's fertility and depressed cardiac function.