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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

In vivo Characterization of Endocrine Disrupting Chemical Effects via Thyroid Hormone Action Indicator Mouse
Published on: October 6, 2023
Thyroid system-disrupting chemicals: interference with thyroid hormone binding to plasma proteins and the cellular
Kiyoshi Yamauchi1, Akinori Ishihara
1Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Japan. sbkyama@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp
Abstract:
In vertebrates, thyroid hormones are essential for post-embryonic development, such as establishing the central nervous system in mammals and metamorphosis in amphibians. The present paper summarizes the possible extra-thyroidal processes that environmental chemicals are known to or suspected to target in the thyroid hormone-signaling pathway. We describe how such chemicals interfere with thyroid-hormone-binding protein functions in plasma, thyroid-hormone-uptake system, thyroid-hormone-metabolizing enzymes, and activation or suppression of thyroid-hormone-responsive genes through thyroid-hormone receptors in mammals and amphibian tadpoles. Several organohalogens affect different aspects of the extra-thyroidal thyroid-hormone-signaling pathway but hardly affect thyroid hormone binding to receptors. Rodents and amphibian tadpoles are most sensitive to the effects of environmental chemicals during specific thyroid-hormone-related developmental windows. Possible mechanisms by which environmental chemicals exert multipotent activities beyond one hormone-signaling pathway are discussed.
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