Glucose-evoked recovery of hepatic thyroxine 5'-deiodinase independent of de novo protein synthesis in fasted rat.

The glucose-evoked recovery of Type I thyroxine 5'-deiodinase activity in the hepatic microsomes of fasted rat was not inhibited by either cycloheximide, puromycin or actinomycin D during 3 h after glucose feeding; however, [3H]-leucine uptake by the liver or the hepatic microsomal fraction was significantly inhibited by cycloheximide and puromycin but not by actinomycin D. These results indicate that the glucose-evoked recovery of deiodinase activity may be independent of de novo protein synthesis.

Effect of estrogen on the expression of a cell-surface antigen associated with rat anterior pituitary somatotrophs.

The long-term in vivo effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on the expression of a cell-surface antigen associated with the anterior pituitary somatotroph was studied in two strains of female rats using double immunofluorescence techniques. Mab WHC-1, a recently generated and characterized monoclonal antibody, was used to detect the antigen associated with somatotrophs, whereas rabbit anti-rat prolactin (rPRL) and anti-human growth hormone (hGH) antisera were used to identify mammotrophs and somatotrophs, respectively. In F344 rats, Mab WHC-1-positive cells increased from 13.8 +/- 0.5% of total pituitary cells in normal anterior pituitaries to 34.2 +/- 4.0% in DES-induced pituitary tumors. The number of mammotrophs also increased significantly from 58.0 +/- 3.2% in controls to 75.9 +/- 2.2% in tumors. On the other hand, somatotrophs decreased significantly in number following ovariectomy (OVX) and DES implantation (19.7 +/- 0.5% vs. 6.1 +/- 1.2%). Based on double immunofluorescence, the percentage of Mab WHC-1-positive cells, which were somatotrophs, decreased from 85.5 +/- 2.7% in normal controls to 6.7 +/- 1.5% in DES-induced tumors. On the other hand, the percentage of Mab WHC-1-positive cells which were mammotrophs increased significantly from 14.0 +/- 1.4% to 86.1 +/- 1.8% following OVX and DES implantation. A similar change was found in the number of somatotrophs and mammotrophs following the same treatment in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats which did not develop pituitary tumors. In contrast to F344 rats, the number of Mab WHC-1-positive cells in SD rats decreased significantly from 32.4 +/- 2.8% in sham-operated controls to 19.3 +/- 2.9% in OVX + DES-implanted rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Production and partial characterization of a monoclonal antibody to rat anterior pituitary somatotrophs.

A cell type-specific monoclonal antibody (Mab) against a cell surface antigen of rat anterior pituitary somatotrophs has been generated by fusion of a nonsecreting mouse myeloma line with spleen cells from a mouse immunized with enzymatically dispersed anterior pituitary cells of adult random cycling female rats. Hybridomas were initially screened for antibodies to cell surface antigens by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay using rat anterior pituitary cells and smooth muscle cells of aorta as positive and negative controls, respectively. Positive clones were further checked for cell type specificity by immunofluorescence. Mab WHC-1 is an immunoglobulin M (IgM) with kappa-light chains and is cytotoxic in the presence of complement. Based on double immunofluorescence, this Mab reacted with 22.5 +/- 2.0% (+/- SEM) of the anterior pituitary cells of adult random cycling female rats. Among them, about 93.5 +/- 1.4% were somatotrophs, and only 4.1 +/- 1.2% were mammotrophs. Approximately two thirds of the somatotrophs were Mab WHC-1-positive. The reaction of this Mab with gonadotrophs, thyrotrophs, or corticotrophs were negligible. The percentage of Mab WHC-1-positive cells derived from immunoperoxidase staining was significantly greater than that from immunofluorescence. The cell surface antigen defined by Mab WHC-1 is expressed heavily on GH3 cells, but not on smooth muscle cells. It is resistant to trypsin digestion, but sensitive to ethanol treatment, and exhibits the solubility property of a glycolipid. Mab WHC-1 cross-reacts with the anterior pituitary cell of rabbits, but not mice. These results provide the immunological evidence for heterogeneity among somatotrophs and demonstrate the feasibility of making pituitary cell type-specific Mabs.

Substrate specificity of iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase in rat liver homogenates and its requirements of divalent cations in vitro.

Studies were carried out to compare the 5'-deiodination reactions of thyroxine (T4) and 3,3'-5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) in 2.5% rat liver homogenates. The 5'-deiodinase activity was assayed by the 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) produced from T4 or by 125I-rT3. Under our experimental conditions, the two 5'-monodeiodination reactions resulted in similar apparent KMs: 1.5 microM for T4 and 1.1 microM for rT3. However, the apparent Vmax values of T4 and rT3 deiodination reactions were, respectively, 0.91 and 222 pmol/mg protein/min. Both reactions were stimulated by thiol reagents but only rT3 deiodination showed complete thiol dependence. The inhibitory effect of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil on the 5'-deiodination of rT3 was at least 50 fold greater than that of T4. The divalent ion requirement of the deiodination system was tested with CaCl2, MgCl2, and ZnCl2 at a range of concentrations. Zinc ion appeared to be a potent inhibitor in both T4 and rT3 deiodination systems. Only the 5'-deiodination of rT3 was inhibited slightly by low concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions. Our results suggest that based on their apparently distinct regulation mechanisms, the 5'-monodiodination of T4 and rT3 in rat liver homogenates is likely mediated by more than one enzyme, despite the similarity of observed KMs.

Lithium treatment of hyperthyroidism and mania.

A case of a man who was admitted to the hospital with both mania and hyperthyroidism is presented to illustrate the interactions between affective disorder and thyroid function. In addition, the methods in which lithium carbonate affects thyroid function, thus making diagnosis more difficult, are discussed. The authors suggest guidelines for evaluation and management of similar patients.

The substrate specificity, tissue specificity and regulation of the 5' deiodination systems in rat liver and kidney tissues.

Studies were carried out to compare the 5' deiodination reactions of thyroxine (T4) and 3, 3', 5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) in rat liver and kidney homogenates. The 5'-deiodinase activity was assayed by the 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyronine (T3) produced from T4 or by the 125I-iodide released from 125I-rT3. The two 5' deiodination reactions had similar ranges of optimal pH, incubation temperature, and apparent Km, T4 1.1 and rT3 1.3 microM. However, the apparent Vmax values for T4 and rT3 deiodination reactions were 0.9 and 220 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. Both reactions were stimulated by thiol reagent but only rT3 deiodination showed complete thiol dependence. The inhibitory effect of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) on the 5' deiodination of rT3 was 50 times as great as that of T4. Only the 5' deiodination of rT3 was inhibited by low concentrations of calcium and magnesium. The 5' deiodination reactions in the liver and kidney tissues showed very similar substrate specificity. However, only the hepatic deiodinase activity was reduced to 60-65% of the control value after fasting, whereas the renal 5'-deiodinase activity was unaffected or even enhanced by fasting up to 72 hours. The results showed the existence of a diverse and complex 5' deiodination system in the rat tissues which is comprised of multiple similar but distinct 5'-deiodinase enzymes with respect to their substrate specificity, tissue specificity and regulation.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance assignments of thyroid hormone and its analogues.

1H NMR data of a series of thyroid hormone analogues, e.g., thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (rT3), 3,3'-diiodothyronine (3,3'-T2), 3,5-diiodothyronine (3,5-T2), 3',5'-diiodothyronine (3',5'-T2), 3-monoidothyronine (3-T1), 3'-monoiodothyronine (3'-T1), and thyronine (TO) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) have been obtained on a 300 MHz spectrometer. The chemical shift and coupling constant are determined and tabulated for each aromatic proton. The inner tyrosyl ring protons in T4, T3, and 3,5-T2 have downfield chemical shifts with respect to those of the outer phenolic ring protons. Four-bond cross-ring coupling has been observed in all the monoiodinated rings. However, this long-range coupling does not exist in T4, diiodinated on both rings, and T0, containing no iodines on the rings. There is no evidence that at 30 degrees C these iodothyronines have any motional constraint in DMSO solution. In addition to identification of the hormones, the potential use of some characteristic peaks as probes in binding studies is discussed.

Corticotropin production by tumors of the autonomic nervous system.

Cushing's syndrome in association with a tumor of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has been reported occasionally. We studied a patient who had an intra-adrenal paraganglioma (pheochromocytoma), and whose plasma corticotropin level was elevated prior to surgery but dropped to a low value following removal of the tumor. Catecholamine levels were elevated preoperatively and catecholamines were extracted from the tumor tissue. Corticotropin was identified in the tumor by immunoperoxidase staining. We also compared the endocrine data of 16 previously reported cases of Cushing's syndrome secondary to the release of ectopic corticotropin from ANS tumors. We concluded that in these patients, the plasma corticotropin level is only modestly elevated but indexes of steroid production frequently are markedly elevated. Also, discrepant responses to dexamethasone suppression tests occur, perhaps via sporadic release of corticotropin. These factors complicate evaluation of the cause of Cushing's syndrome in these patients.

Comparison of peripheral thyroid hormone metabolism in normal rats and in rats receiving prolonged glucagon infusion.

An elevated plasma glucagon concentration and reduced T3 production from T4 have both been observed in several clinical disorders, including hepatic cirrhosis, uremia, diabetes mellitus, and starvation. The question of whether glucagon has a direct effect on T3 production was studied in normal rats infused iv with [125I]T4 of [125I]T3 and 3 micrograms T4/day, using implanted minipumps. The blood [125I]T4 and [125I]T3 levels maintained a plateau between the fifth and ninth days of infusion. Each animal also received a second minipump, implanted ip, that infused either a diluant solution or 30 micrograms glucagon/100 g BW . day. After 7 days of continuous infusion, the glucagon-treated animals showed a 20% increase in plasma glucose and a 4-fold increase in plasma glucagon from baseline. However, the levels of insulin, T4, and T3 remained unchanged. The MCRs and the disposal rates of T4 and T3, calculated by the constant infusion method, showed T4 and T3 MCRs to be 0.99 +/- 0.18 and 11.25 +/- 2.52 ml/h . 100 g, respectively, and T4 and T3 disposal rates to be 68 +/- 10 and 9 +/- 2 ng/h . 100 g; there was no difference between the control animals and the glucagon-infused animals. T3 production was also determined in vitro from T4 added to a liver homogenate. Compared to control animals, the liver homogenate prepared from glucagon-infused animals showed a modestly higher T3 production rate throughout the 60-min incubation period (P = 0.025--0.05). However, the concentration of nonprotein-bound sulfhydryls was similar in the liver, kidney, brain, muscle, and heart of the two animal groups. In conclusion, glucagon does not have an important regulating role on the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormone and T3 production in rats.

The effects of propranolol on thyroxine metabolism and triiodothyronines production in man.

The effects of propranolol on the turnover of thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), and 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (rT3) were determined by a noncompartmental analysis in seven normal men. Fourteen normal subjects were treated with 0.2 mg T4 daily, and half of this group (seven) received in addition 80 mg propranolol daily. Fifteen days of propranolol treatment did not alter serum T4 concentration or T4 turnover. However, it lowered serum T3 concentration from 173 to 102 ng/dl (P = 0.001); T3 clearance was unchanged. Propranolol treatment elevated serum rT3 concentration from 54 to 69 ng/dl (P = 0.05); rT3 metabolic clearance rate fell from 105 to 90 liters/day but the difference did not reach statistical significance. The rT3 disposal rate was unchanged by propranolol. The fractional T4 disposal which was degraded via the deiodinative pathways was reduced from 82.0 per cent in the control subjects to 65.5 per cent in the propranolol treated subjects. Therefore, propranolol appears to be a potent inhibitor of 5'-deiodination. The interpretation of serum T3 measurements in patients treated with propranolol requires caution.