The protective effect of iodide intake adjustment and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) supplementation in rat offspring following excess iodide intake

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of iodide intake adjustment, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) supplementation, or both, on the thyroid gland of rat offspring. METHODS: The offspring of female rats administered 100 times the normal dose of iodide (100 HI; 750 μg/d) during pregnancy and lactation were divided into four different treatment groups. They were either having their iodide intake adjusted from 100 HI to normal iodide intake (7.5 μg/day) or supplemented with 25-hydroxy vitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3); 5 μg·kg(−1)·day(−1)], or both, for 4 weeks. Thyroid sodium pertechnetate (Na(99m)TcO(4)) uptake percentages were measured using single-photon emission computed tomography, while serum levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and vitamin D3 (VD3) were monitored using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The messenger ribonucleic acid expression of interleukin (IL)-17A, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and IL-10 in the thyroid gland was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the protein expression of thyroid-hormone-receptor α1 (TRα1) and thyroid-hormone-receptor β1 (TRβ1) in the thyroid gland was detected using Western blotting. Haematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and immunofluorescence staining were also used to assess thyroid follicular structure and lymphocytic infiltration in the thyroid glands. RESULTS: The immunofluorescence staining showed CD4(+) co-localized with TRβ1 or the vitamin D receptor in thyroid gland cells of rats that were continuously treated with 100 HI. Following iodide adjustment, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) supplementation, or both, an increase in serum levels of FT3, free thyroxine, and VD3, protein expression of TRα1 and TRβ1 in the thyroid gland cells, and Na(99m)TcO(4) thyroid uptake percentages was observed. The mRNA expression levels of IL-17A and IFN-γ, decreased, while the mRNA expression levels of IL-10 increased in the thyroid cells of each treatment group, except the group with continuous 100 HI intake. CONCLUSION: Iodide adjustment, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) supplementation, or both may increase the serum levels of FT3, FT4, and VD3, as well as the protein expression levels of TRα1 and TRβ1, in thyroid cells. In addition, iodide adjustment, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) supplementation, or both, may potentially reverse the imbalance in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, IFN-γ, and IL-10) caused by 100 HI, which may be beneficial in improving Na(99m)TcO(4) thyroid uptake percentages.