Introduction
The relationship between thyroid dysfunction and mood disorders has been extensively studied. Clinical investigations have demonstrated that patients with hyperthyroidism often exhibit symptoms, such as anxiety, irritability, and insomnia, while those with hypothyroidism are more susceptible to depression, cognitive impairment, and mental retardation (Davis et al., 2010). This suggests that the dysregulation of thyroid hormone levels not only affects peripheral metabolism but also has a profound impact on the central nervous system’s function (Ritchie & Yeap, 2015). In recent years, the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer has led to a significant rise in the number of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. To mitigate the risk of tumor recurrence, clinical practice routinely employs thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) inhibition therapy, which involves the administration of high-dose exogenous levothyroxine (L-T4) to maintain serum TSH levels at an extremely low range for an extended period (Schlumberger & Leboulleux, 2021). However, growing clinical observations indicate that long-term TSH inhibition may be associated with mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, which can impose a burden on patients’ quality of life (Jin et al., 2019).
The pathogenesis of emotional disorders is multifaceted, with the hippocampus playing a crucial role in regulating emotions and cognition (Jurado-Flores et al., 2022). Thyroid hormones can cross the blood-brain barrier and directly influence the activities of hippocampal neurons, thereby modulating neurotransmitter metabolism, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis (Ritchie & Yeap, 2015).
Existing evidence suggests that abnormal thyroid function can lead to a decrease in the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), a core neurotransmitter involved in emotional stability and antidepressant mechanisms. This 5-HT deficiency is considered an important pathological basis for anxiety and depression (Bauer & Whybrow, 2021). Notably, changes in 5-HT levels not only directly affect neuronal activities but also participate in the regulation of hippocampal neurogenesis by modulating the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) (Vancamp et al., 2020).
Therefore, TSH inhibition may indirectly contribute to the development of emotional disorders through the pathway of “decreased 5-HT → impaired neurogenesis”.
The Notch signaling pathway is a critical molecular network that regulates the fate determination of NSCs during neurogenesis (Ding et al., 2022). Previous studies have suggested that excessive Notch signaling is associated with decreased neuronal differentiation, increased astrocyte production, and the development of depression-like behaviors (Ran et al., 2024); for instance, in animal models of depression, Notch hyperactivation prevents the conversion of precursor cells into neurons and promotes glial lineage commitment (Ran et al., 2024). It can be hypothesized that the decrease in serotonin (5-HT) levels caused by TSH inhibition may abnormally activate the Notch pathway, disrupt the balance between neurogenesis and apoptosis, and ultimately manifest as anxiety/depression-like behaviors.
The present study employed a rat model to systematically investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the association between TSH inhibition therapy and the risk of emotional disorders. Levothyroxine-induced TSH inhibition was used to establish the experimental model, and a comprehensive assessment was conducted to evaluate the effects on emotion-related behaviors, hippocampal serotonin (5-HT) levels, Notch signaling activity, and the neurogenesis/apoptosis process across behavioral, neurochemical, and molecular levels. The findings of this study aim to elucidate the potential mechanisms by which TSH inhibition may contribute to the development of emotional disorders, providing experimental evidence to inform the assessment and management of neuropsychiatric risks in clinical patients undergoing long-term TSH inhibition therapy for thyroid cancer.
Materials and Methods
Experimental animals
In this experiment, 120 SPF-grade male Wistar rats, sourced from Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co., Ltd. (License No. SCXK (Beijing) 2016-0006), were used. At purchase, the rats were approximately 6 weeks old, weighing 200±10 g, and measuring 12.9±1.4 cm in length. They were housed at the Laboratory Animal Center of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine under controlled conditions: 22±2 °C temperature, 50–60% humidity, and a 12-hour light/dark cycle. Standard pellet feed and water were provided ad libitum. The rats underwent a 7-day acclimation period to mitigate stress from transport and environmental changes. The study adhered to the Regulations for the Administration of Laboratory Animals and received approval from the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
Experimental drug
Levothyroxine (L-thyroxine, L-T4; Sigma-Aldrich, Merck, product number: T2501, 50 μg/tablet) was dissolved in sterile normal saline to achieve the desired concentration and used immediately to maintain drug efficacy.
Grouping and modeling
A cohort of 120 rats was randomly allocated into two groups: 12 rats served as the blank control group, while the remaining 108 underwent total thyroidectomy to establish a model, following the methodology outlined by Jin et al. (2021). Under pentobarbital sodium anesthesia (3%, 0.1 mL/100 g, intraperitoneally), bilateral thyroidectomy was performed microscopically. One week post-operation, the survival rate of the model rats was approximately 56.5%, resulting in 61 successfully modeled survivors. These 61 rats were further divided into two groups using a random number table, with 12 rats per group: the hormone replacement group and the TSH inhibition group. Both groups received daily morning drug administration for model establishment. These L-T4 doses (1.2 and 1.6 μg/100 g) were chosen based on previous studies to achieve the intended degree of TSH inhibition (Jin et al., 2021).
1. Control group: No thyroidectomy was performed. The animals were reared conventionally without any drug intervention.
2. Replacement group: Rats that underwent total thyroidectomy were subcutaneously injected with L-T4 (1.2 μg/100 g body weight) once a day for 15 consecutive days.
3. TSH inhibition group: Rats that underwent total thyroidectomy were subcutaneously injected with L-T4 (1.6 μg/100 g body weight) once a day for 15 consecutive days.
Throughout the modeling and drug administration phases, we meticulously monitored the rats’ body weight, activity levels, and overall condition to assess the impact of the modeling and interventions. The overall experimental design, animal grouping, interventions, and study timeline are summarized in
Figure 1.
The activation of the Notch pathway in TSH-suppressed rats provides a molecular link to the observed alterations in neurogenesis.
Changes in apoptosis-related molecules
At the mRNA level, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was highest in the inhibition group (6.511±0.804) and was significantly greater than both the control (1.257±0.243) and replacement (2.106±0.088) groups (P<0.01 for both comparisons,
Table 2).

Also, mRNA levels in the replacement group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01).
At the protein level, the inhibition group likewise exceeded both the control and replacement groups (0.867±0.015 vs 0.667±0.015 and 0.677±0.015, respectively; P<0.01 for both,
Table 3).

No significant difference was observed between the control and replacement groups (P>0.05). Relative to controls, the protein Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased by ~30% in the inhibition group, indicating enhanced apoptotic signaling in the hippocampus under TSH inhibition.
Discussion
This study systematically demonstrated that prolonged TSH inhibition elicits substantial metabolic and endocrine alterations, as well as anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, by modulating hippocampal neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, and apoptosis in a rat model of TSH inhibition. These findings offer an experimental foundation for understanding the mental health symptoms experienced by clinical thyroid cancer patients following TSH inhibition therapy, and suggest potential underlying molecular mechanisms.
The present study showed that rats subjected to TSH inhibition exhibited distinct behavioral phenotypes characteristic of depression and anxiety. Specifically, these animals displayed prolonged immobility in the TST and reduced exploration with increased latency in the OFT. This finding aligns with clinical observations in thyroid cancer patients undergoing long-term TSH inhibition therapy (often maintained over months or years), who frequently report symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and emotional instability (Botella-Carretero, 2003; Roerink et al., 2013; Jung & Visovatti, 2017). Importantly, the control group receiving hormone replacement therapy maintained euthyroid status and did not exhibit significant emotional disturbances. These results suggest that the emotional abnormalities observed are not simply a consequence of thyroid hormone deficiency, but are directly linked to the persistent low levels of TSH and the artificial disruption of the thyroid axis regulation.
The present study provides further mechanistic insights into the observed behavioral alterations associated with TSH inhibition. The findings indicated that TSH inhibition was accompanied by a significant decrease in 5-HT levels within the hippocampus. This is noteworthy, as extensive evidence has demonstrated that thyroid hormones can regulate the metabolism and transport of monoamine neurotransmitters, including 5-HT, in the brain, and the impact on the 5-HT system is particularly crucial (Kotkowska & Strzelecki, 2022). Serotonin is not only the classic neurotransmitter basis for emotional disorders, but its deficiency has also been linked to inhibited neurogenesis and reduced neural plasticity (Kamyshna et al., 2024). In the current study, the decrease in 5-HT levels coincided with the observed behavioral abnormalities, suggesting a pivotal upstream role of 5-HT dysregulation in the emotional disturbances caused by TSH inhibition. Importantly, clinical studies have reported similar findings, with hyperthyroid patients exhibiting 5-HT metabolic disorders (Mai et al., 2023) and hypothyroid patients showing decreased 5-HT synthesis and release (Osnaya-Brizuela et al., 2024), both of which are strongly correlated with depressive and anxious symptoms. Collectively, these results indicate that TSH inhibition may lead to a hormonal imbalance by over-activating the thyroid axis, which in turn alters the homeostasis of the 5-HT system, ultimately resulting in emotional abnormalities.
TSH inhibition resulted in a significant imbalance in hippocampal neurogenesis, characterized by enhanced proliferation, restricted neuronal differentiation, and increased glial differentiation. Hippocampal neurogenesis is a core pathological mechanism implicated in emotional disorders. Previous animal studies have demonstrated that both chronic stress and depression models are accompanied by reduced hippocampal neuron generation and enhanced glial reactivity (Ahmed et al., 2012). The abnormal neurogenesis pattern reported here is highly consistent with the decline in 5-HT signaling, as 5-HT can directly regulate the fate determination of NSCs. Diminished 5-HT not only weakens neuronal differentiation signals but may also lead to functional impairment of neural circuits by triggering a deviation toward the glial lineage (Baghcheghi et al., 2018). The present findings demonstrate that the Notch signaling pathway was significantly upregulated in the TSH inhibition group, as evidenced by the increased expression of Notch1, Hes1, Hes5, and Jagged-1. The Notch signaling cascade is a crucial regulator of NSC maintenance and neuronal differentiation inhibition. Its overactivation prevents the conversion of precursor cells into the neuronal lineage and promotes their glial differentiation (Xu et al., 2023). Previous research has established the abnormal hyperactivation of Notch signaling in individuals with depression and animal models of chronic stress, which is accompanied by restricted hippocampal neurogenesis (Maglione et al., 2022). The current results not only corroborate this phenomenon but also suggest that TSH inhibition, through the decrease of upstream 5-HT, may interact with the imbalance of Notch signaling, ultimately leading to impaired neurogenesis.
This study identified increased apoptosis as a significant finding alongside impaired neurogenesis. Rats subjected to TSH inhibition displayed a higher Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, indicating a pro-apoptotic state. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was approximately 30% higher in TSH-suppressed rats than in controls, confirming this heightened apoptosis. Previous research links abnormal thyroid function to oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, accelerating neuronal apoptosis (Liao et al., 2021). The combined impact of heightened neuronal apoptosis and impaired neurogenesis compromises hippocampal plasticity and functionality, contributing to emotional disorders (Schroer et al., 2023). Mechanistically, reduced 5-HT levels not only diminish neuronal survival but may also disrupt Notch signaling and increase apoptosis by impairing BDNF signaling (Ru et al., 2024). Consequently, emotional disorders may arise from intertwined pathological processes: hormonal imbalance reduces 5-HT, impairing neurogenesis via Notch signaling and apoptotic pathways, ultimately leading to anxiety- and depression-like outcomes in behavior. It should be noted that other mechanisms not extensively examined here, such as neuroinflammation and impaired neurotrophic support (e.g. reduced BDNF/TrkB signaling), might also contribute to these neuropsychiatric effects of TSH inhibition, and deserve exploration in future studies.
This study elucidates a comprehensive mechanism: TSH inhibition disrupts thyroid hormone levels, leading to reduced hippocampal 5-HT, aberrant Notch pathway activation, and restricted neuronal differentiation. This results in increased glial differentiation, heightened apoptosis signals, and reduced neural network plasticity, culminating in depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. Aligning with previous clinical findings, this mechanism offers a robust experimental foundation for understanding mood disorders associated with TSH inhibition therapy, highlighting potential neuropsychiatric risks of excessive inhibition.
This study has several limitations that warrant consideration. First, the extent and temporal dynamics of TSH inhibition may not fully recapitulate clinical scenarios, underscoring the need for cautious extrapolation of the results from animal models to human patients. Second, the investigation primarily focused on the Notch signaling pathway, while other potentially relevant mechanisms, such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, the BDNF/TrkB pathway, and alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, were not comprehensively examined. Finally, the current findings are correlative in nature, and future pharmacological or genetic manipulations will be necessary to establish the causal relationship between reduced serotonin levels and dysregulation of the Notch pathway. Conducting a longitudinal study in clinical populations that integrates serological, neuroimaging, and cognitive assessments could help clarify the predictive value of TSH inhibition therapy for the risk of emotional disorders, thereby informing personalized treatment approaches.
In summary, this study elucidates the mechanisms by which TSH inhibition may lead to emotional disorders, examining behavioral science, neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, and molecular signaling pathways. The findings indicated that prolonged TSH inhibition poses risks, necessitating a balance between tumor control and mental health. Further clarification of the 5-HT–Notch–neurogenesis pathway and exploration of drug interventions could inform comprehensive management strategies for thyroid cancer patients.
Conclusion
TSH inhibition is associated with anxiety/depression-like behaviors, accompanied by a decrease in hippocampal 5-HT levels, an upregulation of the Notch pathway, and an imbalance in neurogenesis–apoptosis. It suggests that excessive inhibition of the thyroid axis may pose neuropsychiatric risks, and a balance needs to be struck between tumor recurrence inhibition and mental health. These results highlight the importance of routine psychological monitoring and support for patients undergoing long-term TSH inhibition therapy.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
This study adhered to the Regulations for the Administration of Laboratory Animals and received approval from the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China (Code: BUCM-2024060102-2228).
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing, China (Grant No.: 81973855); the Clinical Research Business Expenses of Central High-level Hospitals at the provincial-ministerial level (Research No.: 2022-NHLHCRF-LX-02-0115).
Authors' contributions
Conceptualization, project administration, and writing: Yikun Zhao and Honglin Jiang; Validation: Huiyuan Shang; Investigation and final approval: All authors.
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
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