Maternal-Fetal Endocrine Interrelations in the Rat: Effects of Cyclic and Dibutyryl Cyclic AMP on Pituitary-Thyroid and Adrenocortical Systems in Mother and Neonate

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions

Administration of the dibutyryl derivative of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate to virgin and pregnant rats induced significant change in the activity of the pituitary-thyroid system without major alteration in pituitary-adrenocortical function. Nucleotide treatment consistently resulted in elevation of TSH levels in plasma and pituitary. Thyroidal radioiodine uptake was decreased in nonpregnant rats, unaffected in mother and offspring and augmented during the first postnatal week of dbCAMP treatment. It is postulated that dbCAMP exerts (a) separate and independent in vivo effects on thyroid and adenohypophysis and (b) enhances TSH, but not ACTH, secretion from the fetal pituitary.