Immune stimulation improves endocrine and neural fetal outcomes in a model of maternofetal thyrotoxicosis

Abstract The potentiation of the immune system in pregnant rats was performed with Complete Freund's Adjuvant [CFA; 20 μl, subcutaneous at gestation day (GD) 18] in experimentally-induced hyperthyroidism by Levo-thyroxine (L-T4; 10 μg/100 g of b.w., intraperitoneal from GD 2 to 17). The potential effects on the fetal neuroendocrine function were evaluated by observing some histopathological investigations in pregnant rats and measuring some biochemical parameters in dams and their fetuses at GD 20. In hyperthyroid group, an increase in maternofetal serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and a decrease in thyrotropin (TSH) levels were noticed, while the concentrations of fetal serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) levels were increased at tested GD with respect to control and CFA groups. Moreover, the activity of uterine and placental myeloperoxidase (MPO) was increased (P