Thyroid hormones and bone structure in utero

Thyroid hormones play a critical role in normal skeletal growth. Many studies have been conducted on the effects of thyroid hormone deficiency after birth, but little is known about the effects of deficiency on bone in utero. Lanham and colleagues sought to discover the effects of hypothyroidism induced by thyroidectomy on the structure and strength of metatarsal bones in sheep foetuses, using computed tomography and mechanical testing. They found that hypothyroid foetuses were growth retarded with stronger trabecular bone and thicker trabeculae. Lanham et al. (2011) Journal of Endocrinology 210 189-198.

Read the full article at: DOI:10.1530/JOE-11-0138.

For a commentary on this paper, see Farquharson (2011).