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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
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An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
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Nutritional control of thyroid morphogenesis through gastrointestinal hormones
Maki Takagishi1, Binta Maria Aleogho2, Masako Okumura2
1Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
Current Biology : CB
|February 23, 2022
Summary
Feeding stimulates thyroid follicle development in tadpoles, mediated by the gastrointestinal hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). This nutrient-driven organogenesis is conserved in mammals, revealing a new role for gut hormones in development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- Mechanisms linking nutrient absorption to embryonic organ development are not fully understood.
- External nutrient utilization for individual organ morphogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nutrient-dependent thyroid follicle morphogenesis in Xenopus laevis.
- To elucidate the role of secreted gastrointestinal (GI) hormones, specifically incretin (GIP), post-feeding.
Main Methods:
- Assessed thyroid follicle formation in response to feeding in Xenopus laevis.
- Investigated the effects of inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (Dpp4) and sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT).
- Administered glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) peptide and incretin receptor antagonist.
- Examined GIP receptor knockout mice for thyroid morphology.
Main Results:
- Feeding induced thyroid follicle formation and transiently inactivated thyroid cell proliferation.
- Inhibition of Dpp4 enhanced thyroid follicle size and lumen connection; SGLT inhibition reversed this.
- GIP injection initiated thyroid follicle formation in unfed tadpoles; antagonist suppressed feeding-induced enlargement.
- GIP receptor knockout mice exhibited smaller thyroid follicles, indicating conserved GI hormone function.
Conclusions:
- External nutrients directly influence thyroid morphogenesis via GI hormones like GIP.
- Gastrointestinal hormones play a crucial role in regulating organ morphology during development.
- This nutrient-thyroid axis is conserved across species, including mammals.
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