Inhibition of 5′DI and 5′DII L‐tiroxine (T4) monodeiodinases. Effect on the hypothalamo‐pituitary ovarian axis in adult hypothyroid rats treated with T4

Hypothyroid female rats were treated with T4 and their 5′DI and 5′DII deiodinases were inhibited by PTU and IOP administration to determine whether the effect of T3 on reproductive function is a primary event at hypothalamo-pituitary levels or ovarian levels. Hypothyroid adult female rats were divided into four groups : Hypothyroid without treatment (H); hypothyroid treated with T4 (H-T4); hypothyroid treated with T4 plus propylthiouracil (H-T4-PTU), and hypothyroid treated with T4 plus iopanoic acid (H-T4-TOP). A group of euthyroid rats (E) was included as control. Estrous cycle, ovarian histological changes and serum estradiol and gonadotropin levels (basal and after GnRH) were searched in all groups. In view of our results and since sexual cycles and puberal pattern in gonadotropin secretion were restored after all treatments we can suggest: That T4 could have an intrinsic effect on reproductive function in adult hypothyroid female rats or that another compensatory T3 mechanism unaffected by IOP could exist. The present report points out that the effect of T3 on reproductive function could be a primary event at hypothalamo-pituitary levels although an effect at ovarian levels could not be excluded.