Effects of marginal iodine deficiency during pregnancy: iodide uptake by the maternal and fetal thyroid.

Iodide uptake by the thyroid is an active process. Iodine deficiency and pregnancy are known to influence thyroid hormone metabolism. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of iodine deficiency and pregnancy on iodide uptake by the thyroid. Radioiodide was injected intravenously into nonpregnant and 19-day pregnant rats receiving a normal or marginally iodine-deficient diet. The uptake of radioiodide by the thyroid was measured continuously for 4 h. The absolute iodide uptake by the maternal and fetal thyroid glands at 24 h was calculated by means of the urinary specific activity. Pregnancy resulted in a decrease in the absolute thyroidal iodide uptake. Marginal iodine deficiency had no effect on the absolute iodide uptake by the maternal thyroid. The decreased plasma inorganic iodide was compensated by an increase in thyroidal clearance. A similar compensation was not found for the fetus; the uptake of iodide by the fetal thyroid decreased by 50% during marginal iodine deficiency. This can lead to diminished thyroid hormone production, which will have a negative effect on fetal development, especially of the brain.