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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: In Vivo Assessment of Thyroid Hormone Disruption Using the THAI Mouse Model
Published on: October 6, 2023
Age and Sex Influence Thyroid Hormone Effects in Target Tissues with Organ-Specific Responses
Helena Kerp1, Janina Gassen1, Dagmar Führer1
1Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Abstract:
Age and sex impact prevalence and clinical features of thyroid disease. Thyroid dysfunction occurs with a higher frequency in elderly patients and females. Moreover, age alters clinical presentation of hyper- and hypothyroidism and onset of thyroid hormone (TH) related co-morbidities leading to increased risk for underdiagnosis and maltreatment in the elderly. Rodent models allow further insights into mechanisms of age- and sex-dependent TH action in target tissues. In this review, we summarize findings from mouse studies showing distinct effects of age and sex on systemic versus organ-specific TH action and discuss their wider implication for clinical care.
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