Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to obtain shapes and sizes of Pinniped and Cetacean brain regions that depend on thyroid hormones for maturation

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TitleUsing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to obtain shapes and sizes of Pinniped and Cetacean brain regions that depend on thyroid hormones for maturation
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsMontie, E. W., M. Moore, D. R. Ketten, J. J. Arruda, A. Bogomolni, and M. Hahn
Conference NameEPA STAR Graduate Fellowship Conference
Keywordscetaceans, hormones, magnetic resonance imaging, marine mammals, maturation, MRI, pinnipeds, thyroid
Abstract

Thyroid hormones (TH) play an integral role in neuro-development, particularly in the maturation of the corpus callosum, cerebellum, hippocampus, and inner ear (1). In rodents, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), particularly polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), interfere with TH signaling (2). These pollutants are widespread in the marine environment and biomagnify in marine mammals to very high levels (3). Brominated flameretardants (BFRs) have also recently been shown to interfere with the TH system in experimental animals (4). Although at the present time BFR levels are much lower than PCBs, BFRs have been shown to biomagnify in marine mammals (5). Hence, there is concern that PCBs and BFRs with similar mechanisms of toxicity may affect neuro-development of marine mammals.