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Chicken embryo illuminates role of thyroid hormone in brain development

Research suggests brain lesions in rare neurological disorder may originate before birth

Date:
November 6, 2017
Source:
Society for Neuroscience
Summary:
A thyroid hormone transporter is essential for the earliest stages of brain development, according to a new study of a region of the developing chicken brain with a layered structure similar to the human cerebral cortex.
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A thyroid hormone transporter is essential for the earliest stages of brain development, according to a JNeurosci study of a region of the developing chicken brain with a layered structure similar to the human cerebral cortex.

Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) deficiency in humans results in a rare neurological disorder called Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome. The deficiency prevents thyroid hormones from facilitating proper development of the cortex. Although a role for MTC8 has been demonstrated at the blood-brain barrier and in the formation of neural circuits, it has not been established at the role of progenitor cells before they differentiate into neuronal and glial cells.

Veerle Darras and colleagues studied the development of the optic tectum in chick embryos, a layered region that shares features with the mammalian cerebral cortex. By genetically modifying MCT8 expression, they found that MCT8-deficient cells failed to migrate to the outer layers of the optic tectum. In addition, the MCT8 deficiency disrupted the cell cycle and reduced the generation of new cells. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that brain lesions in Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome may originate before birth and treatments may therefore need to be started prenatally as well.


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Materials provided by Society for Neuroscience. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Veerle Darras et al. Deficiency of the thyroid hormone transporter MCT8 in neural progenitors impairs cellular processes crucial for early corticogenesis. JNeurosci, 2017 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1917-17.2017

Cite This Page:

Society for Neuroscience. "Chicken embryo illuminates role of thyroid hormone in brain development." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 November 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171106132014.htm>.
Society for Neuroscience. (2017, November 6). Chicken embryo illuminates role of thyroid hormone in brain development. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 5, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171106132014.htm
Society for Neuroscience. "Chicken embryo illuminates role of thyroid hormone in brain development." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171106132014.htm (accessed December 5, 2024).

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