Thyroid hormone role on cerebellar development and maintenance: a perspective based on transgenic mouse models

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Cerebellum development is highly sensitive to thyroid hormone (TH) levels.
• THs regulate critical processes including neuronal migration, differentiation, and myelination.
• Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), specifically TRβ1, TRβ2, and TRα1, mediate most TH effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current findings on the effects of THs on cerebellum development and maintenance.
• To highlight advances in understanding TH target genes and regulatory mechanisms.
• To discuss the role of TH transport and genetic animal models in this field.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on THs and cerebellar development.
• Analysis of studies involving transgenic animal models.
• Examination of genome-wide expression analyses.

Main Results:

• THs play a significant role in cerebellum development, mediated by TRs.
• Identification of TH target genes is complex due to non-classical elements and temporal/spatial regulation.
• THs can influence neurodevelopment by regulating transcription factors and are affected by TH transport mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• A growing body of evidence is clarifying the molecular, cellular, and functional roles of THs in the developing cerebellum.
• Understanding TH action in the cerebellum is advancing through genetic models and molecular analyses.
• This review consolidates current knowledge on THs' impact on cerebellar development and maintenance.