Transient Hypothyroidism during the Second Week of Gestation has a Temporal and Region Specific Effect on the Histoarchitecture of the Epididymis at Prepuberal, Puberal and Adult Rats

Recent demonstration of thyroid hormone receptors (TR) in epididymis by our laboratory and that of Del Rio point out that epididymis may also be a target for the direct effect of T 3 . Recent studies emanating from our laboratory have shown the importance of foetal-onset hypothyroidism on the growth, structure and function of the epididymis in adult rats. Since there are temporal difference in the foetal differentiation of hypothalamo-hypophyseal-testicular axis and the differentiation of testis and epididymis, it is hypothesized "Transient maternal hypothyroidism modifies specific cell types of the epididymis during pre-puberal, puberal and adult period in a temporal manner" .