Objective: To study the influence of excessive iodine intake on thyroid hormones in cerebrum of filial mice and intervention of selenium.
Methods: 60 Balb/c mice were divided randomly into 4 groups: control group, iodine group, selenium group and iodine plus selenium group and given tap water, tap water containing iodine 3000 microg/L, tap water containing selenium 200 microg/L and tap water containing iodine plus selenium 200 microg/L respectively as drinking water. At the end of the fourth month, the mice mated. Thyroid hormones and TSH in serum and in cerebrum of filial mice were determined at the postnatal 0, 14th and 28th day.
Results: At the postnatal 14th day, serum TT4 level was lower significantly, and serum TSH was higher in iodine group than those in control group and in the iodine plus selenium group. At the postnatal 0 day and 14th day, thyroid hormone concentrations in the cerebrum of progeny of mice were lower significantly in iodine group than those in control group, selenium group and iodine plus selenium (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed among the four groups in TT4, TT3 and rT3 concentrations in serum and cerebrum at the postnatal 28th day.
Conclusion: Excessive iodine intake can change thyroid hormone concentrations in the cerebrum of progeny of mice and selenium supplementation exerted favorable effects on it.