All of the following development events are dependent on the production of maternal or fetal glucocoicoid, EXCEPT:: (A) Induction of thymic involution, (B) Production of surfactant by type II alveolar cells, (C) Functional thyroid, (D) Functional hypothalamopituitary axis
Answer is C. Functions of maternal / fetal coicosteroids in the fetus include Synthesis of surfactant in the lungs, induction of thymic involution, proper development of hypo-thalamo-pituitary axis. Development of functional thyroid is not found to be dependant on the maternal or fetal glucocoicoids. Ref: Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, 25th Edition, Pages 373-75.