Endocrine - Thyroid Development

Introduction

The boundary endoderm in the floor region forms a pocket (marked by the foramen cecum) that separates from the surface and forms the thyroid. Cells originate on the surface of the floor and descend into mesoderm above aortic sac and into the hypopharyngeal eminence as "cords". These cells continue to descend until they reach their final destination in the neck adjacent to the thyroid cartilage.

This pathway forms a temporary duct (thyroglossal duct). There are abnormalities of incomplete or excessive descent of these thyroid precursor cells. The thyroid is one of the earliest endocrine organs to differentiate and has an important hormonal role in embryonic development. The early bundle of cells then forms the thyroid by first dividing to form 2 lobes separated by a narrow connecting isthmus.

Historic Embryology - Endocrine
1903 Islets of Langerhans \| 1903 Pig Adrenal \| 1904 interstitial Cells \| 1908 Pancreas Different Species \| 1908 Pituitary \| 1908 Pituitary histology \| 1911 Rathke's pouch \| 1912 Suprarenal Bodies \| 1914 Suprarenal Organs \| 1915 Pharynx \| 1916 Thyroid \| 1918 Rabbit Hypophysis \| 1920 Adrenal \| 1935 Mammalian Hypophysis \| 1926 Human Hypophysis \| 1927 Adrenal \| 1927 Hypophyseal fossa \| 1930 Adrenal \| 1932 Pineal Gland and Cysts \| 1935 Hypophysis \| 1935 Pineal \| 1937 Pineal \| 1935 Parathyroid \| 1940 Adrenal \| 1941 Thyroid \| 1950 Thyroid Parathyroid Thymus \| 1957 Adrenal

| Lecture - Head Development | original page

Functions from wk10, required for neural development, stimulates metabolism (protein, carbohydrate, lipid), reduced/absence = cretinism (see abnormalities)

Hormones - (amino acid derivatives) Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3)

Thyroid Development

Stage 13 and Stage 22 thyroid development

foramen caecum

thyroid median endodermal thickening in the floor of pharynx, outpouch – thyroid diverticulum
tongue grows, cells descend in neck
thyroglossal duct - proximal end at the foramen cecum of tongue thyroglossal duct
thyroid diverticulum - hollow then solid, right and left lobes, central isthmus

Thyroid Timeline

24 days - thyroid median endodermal thickening in the floor of pharynx, outpouch – thyroid diverticulum
Week 11 - colloid appearance in thyroid follicles, iodine and thyroid hormone (TH) synthesis

growth factors (insulin-like, epidermal) stimulates follicular growth

Fetal Thyroid Hormone

Initial secreted biologically inactivated by modification, late fetal secretion develops brown fat
Iodine deficiency- during this period, leads to neurological defects (cretinism)
Birth - TSH levels increase, thyroxine (T3) and T4 levels increase to 24 h, then 5-7 days postnatal decline to normal levels

Abnormalities

Congenital hypothyroidism - approximately 1 in 3000 births, associated with neurological abnormalities.

Lingual thyroid gland - failure of thyroid descent.

Thyroglossal cyst - persistance of thyroglossal duct.

Thyroglossal fistula - partial degeneration of the thyroglossal duct.

Abnormal development of the thyroid - incomplete or excessive descent.

Pyramidal lobe - from isthmus (50% of people) attached to hyoid bone distal end of thryoglossal duct.

Childhood hypothyroidism delays ossification and bone mineralization.

Iodine Deficiency

Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) is the single most common cause of preventable mental retardation and brain damage in the world (More? Abnormal Development - Iodine Deficiency). It is required for synthesis of thyroid hormone, which in turn regulates aspects of neural development.

Worldwide:

1.6 billion people are at risk IDD affects 50 million children 100,000 cretins are born every year It causes goiters and decreases the production of hormones vital to growth and development. Children with IDD can grow up stunted, apathetic, mentally retarded and incapable of normal movement, speech or hearing. IDD in pregnant women cause miscarriage, stillbirth and mentally retarded children.

A teaspoon of iodine is all a person requires in a lifetime, but because iodine cannot be stored for long periods by the body, tiny amounts are needed regularly. In areas of endemic iodine deficiency, where soil and therefore crops and grazing animals do not provide sufficient dietary iodine to the populace, food fortification and supplementation have proven highly successful and sustainable interventions.

Iodized salt programs and iodized oil supplements are the most common tools in the fight against IDD.

(Data: ICCIDD)

Prolonged intake of large amounts (excess) of iodide can increase the incidence of goiter and/or hypothyroidism in humans. African Congo appears to be the only country that appears to have a dietary excess.