Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Maturation of human hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid function and control.

D A Fisher1, J C Nelson, E I Carlton

  • 1Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, San Juan Capistrano, California 92629, USA.

Thyroid : Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association
|April 25, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Development of a paw paw herbal shampoo for the removal of head lice.

Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology·2003
Same author

An audit of the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in septic shock.

Internal medicine journal·2002
Same author

Neonatal thyroid enlargement associated with propylthiouracil therapy of Graves' disease during pregnancy: a problem revisited.

The Journal of pediatrics·2001
Same author

The state and future of Mars polar science and exploration.

Icarus·2001
Same author

3,3'-Diiodothyronine sulfate excretion in maternal urine reflects fetal thyroid function in sheep.

Pediatric research·2001
Same author

Court procedures for handling intoxicated drivers.

Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism·2001

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis matures with age, showing a decreasing thyrotropin (TSH) to free thyroxine (T4) ratio from fetus to adulthood. This maturation involves complex changes in TSH and T4 levels, reflecting thyroid hormone feedback regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pediatric Medicine

Background:

  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis regulates metabolism and development through thyroid hormones.
  • Understanding the maturation of the HPT axis is crucial for diagnosing and managing thyroid disorders in children and adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the maturation of the HPT feedback control axis in infants, children, and adults.
  • To quantitatively characterize reference ranges for the normal HPT axis using a nomogram.
  • To analyze HPT axis function in individuals with thyroid hormone resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Serum thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (T4) concentrations were measured across various age groups, from fetal life to adulthood.
  • Data from 522 healthy subjects, 83 hypothyroid patients, 116 hyperthyroid patients, and 75 patients with thyroid hormone resistance were collated.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Mean values were plotted on a nomogram to characterize HPT axis maturation and reference ranges.

    • Main Results:

    • A progressive decrease in the TSH/free T4 ratio was observed with age, from 15 in the midterm fetus to 0.97 in adults.
    • HPT axis maturation involved increasing hypothalamic-pituitary T4 resistance during fetal development and a significant TSH surge at birth.
    • Postnatal maturation included decreasing TSH with stable free T4 in childhood and adolescence, correlating with reduced thyroxine secretion and metabolic rate.

    Conclusions:

    • The HPT axis undergoes complex maturation from fetal development through childhood and adolescence.
    • Thyroid hormone feedback regulation and sensitivity change significantly during development.
    • The study provides a quantitative framework for assessing HPT axis maturation and identifying thyroid dysfunction.