Hepatic gene expression patterns in thyroid hormone-treated hypothyroid rats.

Thyroid hormone (T3) is essential for normal development, differentiation and metabolic balance. We have performed DNA microarray experiments using hepatic RNA from hypothyroid and T3-treated hypothyroid rats in order to characterize T3-induced gene expression patterns after various time points (6, 24 and 48 h after the administration of the hormone). Sixty-two of 4608 different genes displayed a reproducible T3-response, and cluster analysis divided these differentially regulated genes into six expression patterns. Thirty-six genes were not significantly regulated within the first 24 h. Transient transfection experiments of eight late-induced gene promoters failed to detect a thyroid hormone response element within their regulatory elements, suggesting an indirect activation mechanism(s). In search for an intermediate factor of T3 action, we examined whether various rather ubiquitous transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and coactivators of the PPARgamma coactivator 1 family (PGC-1) are regulated by T3. Only PPARgamma and PERC/PGC-1beta exhibit a significant T3-response within the first 6 h after treatment, identifying these factors as candidate components for mediating the late-induced expression pattern. Regulation of early-induced genes within the first 6 h after administration of T3 on transcript levels correlates with altered protein levels after 24 and 48 h in vivo.

Hormonal regulation of multiple promoters of the rat mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene: identification of a complex hormone-response element in the ubiquitous promoter B.

Rat mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) is regulated by multiple promoters in a tissue-specific manner. Here, we demonstrate that thyroid hormone (3,5,3'-tri-iodo-L-thyronine) and steroid hormone but not the peroxisome proliferator clofibrate and retinoic acid stimulate the activation of the ubiquitous promoter B in a receptor-dependent manner, whereas the more tissue-restricted promoters A and C are not inducible by these hormones. Thyroid hormone action is mediated by a direct repeat +4 (DR+4) hormone-response element as identified by deletion and mutation analyses of promoter B in transient transfection analyses. The DR+4 element was able to bind to an in vitro translated thyroid hormone receptor in band-shift and supershift experiments. The hormone-response element comaps with a recognition site for the transcription factor Sp1, suggesting complex regulation of this sequence element. Mutation of this Sp1-recognition site reduces the basal promoter B activity dramatically in HepG2 and HEK293 cells in transient transfection and abolishes the binding of Sp1 in band-shift experiments. As demonstrated by Western-blot experiments, administration of tri-iodothyronine to euthyroid rats increases hepatic mGPDH protein concentrations in vivo. As it has recently been reported that human mGPDH promoter B is not regulated by tri-iodothyronine, this is the first example of a differentially tri-iodothyronine-regulated orthologous gene promoter in man and rat.

Two thyroid hormone-mediated gene expression patterns in vivo identified by cDNA expression arrays in rat.

Thyroid hormone (T3) is essential for normal development, differentiation and metabolic balance. Only a limited number of T3-target genes have been identified so far and their complex regulation pattern is poorly understood. We performed cDNA expression array hybridisation to identify T3-regulated genes and to investigate their expression pattern after various time points in vivo. Radioactively labelled cDNA was prepared from hepatic RNA of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rats 6, 24 and 48 h after the administration of T3. Labelled cDNA probes were hybridised to rat Atlas Arrays. Twenty-three of 588 genes were shown to be differentially regulated, 18 of which were previously not known to be regulated by T3. The expression of 19 genes was verified by independent northern blot hybridisation. Two different expression time courses of T3 expression were observed. In a first expression profile ('early' expression) the transcription level of the target genes rises within 6 h, drops by 24 h and increases again within 48 h after the administration of T3. In a second expression profile ('late' expression) the mRNA level rose in the first 6 h and rose further by 48 h, indicating an additional regulation mechanism. Nuclear respiratory factor (NRF)-1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1), but not NRF-2, were up-regulated within 6 h after T3 administration, suggesting NRF-1 and/or PGC-1 as key regulators for mediating the 'late' expression pattern.

Multiple promoters direct the tissue-specific expression of rat mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The mitochondrial FAD-dependent glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) is an essential component of the glycerol phosphate shuttle which transfers reduction equivalents from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria. We analyzed the distribution of different exon 1-containing transcripts by RT-PCR in various tissues in vivo. Exon 1 a was predominantly expressed in brain, brown adipose tissue and pancreas, exon 1b was ubiquitously expressed, and exon 1c was exclusively expressed in testis. In transient transfection assays the ubiquitous promoter B showed a detectable activity, whereas promoters A and C were completely silent. A deletion mutational analysis located the basal promoter B activity to a 316 bp core sequence upstream of the transcription start site.

Oxidative stress response induced in rat primary hepatocyte monolayers by mechanical removal of adherent cells.

We show that mechanical separation of adherent rat primary hepatocytes after the monolayer-forming stage causes the induction of the oxidative stress genes HO-1 (haem oxygenase) and MnSOD (manganese superoxide dismutase). The procedures for enzymatically breaking up liver tissue structure and isolating hepatocytes do not cause HO-1 and MnSOD activation. Only after a 3-h incubation, during which hepatocytes form a monolayer on culture dishes, does the hydrodynamic shearing away of necrotic cells sticking to the monolayer surface activate these two genes. Analysis of this injury-response pathway shows that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play a role, as activation can be repressed by antioxidants and by respiratory inhibitors. Recovery of the cells takes a further 24-h incubation during which HO-1 and MnSOD expression returns to basal levels.

Thyroid hormone and gene expression in the regulation of mitochondrial respiratory function.

Thyroid hormone has a profound effect on cellular respiration. Abnormally high levels of this hormone accelerate respiration in conjunction with a general increase in metabolism while pathologically low amounts cause low levels of respiration with a general slowing of metabolic activity. The affect on respiration is primarily the result of changes in the expression of respiratory genes and modulation of inner membrane structure. This review focuses on the regulation of respiratory gene expression by thyroid hormone. Respiratory genes are encoded in both the nucleus and the mitochondrion, the products of which are required in stoichiometric amounts for proper assembly of the respiratory chain. Thyroid hormone influences the expression of a number of nuclear encoded respiratory genes at the level of mRNA and enhances expression of mitochondrially encoded respiratory genes. Therefore, thyroid hormone appears to affect gene regulation in two different cell compartments. The current evidence for a direct thyroid hormone/thyroid receptor regulation of these respiratory genes and possible indirect pathway(s) mediating the thyroid effect is discussed.

Regulation of adenine nucleotide translocase and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression by thyroid hormones in different rat tissues.

Thyroid hormone (T3)-dependent gene expression of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) and the FAD-linked glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) was investigated in several rat tissues. Both proteins provide an important link between cytosolic and mitochondrial metabolic pathways and seem to be involved in the stimulation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption in response to T3. Here we show that two ANT isoforms are expressed in rat, the muscle-specific ANT1 form and the ubiquitous ANT2 form. The expression of ANT1 mRNA is not sensitive to T3 whereas the amount of ANT2 mRNA is increased 7-9-fold in liver and heart within 12-48 h after T3 application. Little or no effect of T3 on ANT2 mRNA was observed in kidney and brain. The mRNA changes are paralleled by an increase in ANT protein, thus explaining the accelerated ADP/ATP exchange observed in mitochondria isolated from hyperthyroid rats. The key role of ANT2 in the control of hyperthyroid metabolism is evident because the expression of the mersalyl-sensitive phosphate carrier and the mitochondrial creatine kinase mRNA, which are functionally linked to ANT, did not respond to T3. Similarly to the ADP/ATP exchange, the transfer of cytosolic NADH to the respiratory chain via the glycerophosphate shuttle is very sensitive to T3. Recently we demonstrated the 10-15-fold induction of mGPDH mRNA in rat liver after administration of T3 [Müller and Seitz (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 10581-10585]. Here we show that, in contrast with ANT2, the time course of induction is fast (4-6 h). Furthermore, mGPDH mRNA is induced 6-fold by T3 in heart and 4-fold in kidney. From these results we conclude that the T3-mediated transcriptional induction leading to increased activity of ANT2 and mGPDH contributes considerably to the increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption in rat tissues.

3,5-Di-iodo-L-thyronine suppresses TSH in rats in vivo and in rat pituitary fragments in vitro.

3,5-Di-iodo-L-thyronine (T2) is a naturally occurring metabolite of thyroxine (T4). Contrary to earlier findings, T2 has recently been shown to have rapid effects in rat liver and in mononuclear blood cells. In the experiments described here, T2 was tested to determine whether it has a TSH suppressive effect in rats in vivo and in rat pituitary fragments in vitro. In experiments over 2 weeks in rats in vivo, low doses of T2 (20-200 micrograms/100 g body weight per day) had no significant influence on body and organ weights, but significantly decreased TSh and T4 serum concentrations. At 200 micrograms/100 g per day, T2 suppressed TSH to 43% and T4 to 29% of control levels. At 1-15 micrograms/100 g per day, 3,5,3'-tri-iodo-L-thyronine (T3), used as a comparison to T2, had significant effects on TSH and T4 levels, and also on body weight. Fifteen micrograms T3/100 g per day decreased TSH to 44%, T4 to 25%, and body weight to 59% of control levels. In experiments over 3 months in rats in vivo, a low dose (25 micrograms/100 g per day) of T2 suppressed TSH to 60% and T4 to 57% of control levels and had no significant influence on other parameters. Conversely, 0.1 microgram/100 g per day T3 had significant effects on body and organ weights as well as pellet intake, but a less pronounced TSH suppressive effect: TSH concentrations were unchanged and T4 concentrations were down to 80% of control values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Detection of the substance immunologically cross-reactive with insulin in insulin RIA is an artifact caused by insulin tracer degradation: involvement of the insulin-degrading enzyme.

In previous literature, the existence of a new insulin-like substance found in tumor tissues, termed substance immunologically cross-reactive with insulin (SICRI), has been proposed. In these studies, insulin-specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) was the only detection method for SICRI. The mouse melanoma B16BL6 cell line was found to be a rich source of SICRI. In this paper, we show that SICRI is not expressed in B16BL6 cells. Previous RIA measurements were wrongly ascribed to SICRI. What was really measured was a positive artifact caused by insulin tracer degradation in RIA. Several lines of evidence indicate that protease responsible for insulin degradation in B16BL6 cells in insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE; EC 3.4.22.11). First, SICRI activity of B16BL6 cytosol measured by insulin RIA was inhibited by thiol protease inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Thiol active agents as well as metal chelators, both potent IDE blockers, inhibited also the insulin-degrading activity of the same sample. Second, cross-linking to 125I-labeled insulin of partially purified sample with highest insulin RIA activity specifically labeled only a single protein with molecular mass similar to IDE (110 kDa). Labeling was blocked by 'cold' insulin in excess. Third, kinetic studies of insulin degradation by RIA active chromatographic fractions revealed an apparent Kd of 90 nM which is very similar to the reported affinity of insulin for IDE (Kd = 100 nM). Additionally, in B16BL6 as well as in mouse myeloid leukemia cells, IDE gene is actively transcribed and this expression was found to be much stronger than in normal mouse tissues. In conclusion, our results strongly question the real existence of SICRI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cloning of a cDNA for the FAD-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rat liver and its regulation by thyroid hormones.

A full-length 2.4-kb cDNA for the FAD-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.5) was cloned from rat liver using PCR techniques. The cloned gene encodes a protein of 727 amino acids. The calculated molecular mass of 80,898 Da is higher than the apparent molecular mass observed by SDS/PAGE (74,000 Da) of the purified enzyme. This result indicates that the enzyme is synthesized as a precursor with a putative mitochondrial signal sequence. mRNA for this gene was detected in liver, heart, muscle, brain, testes, and pancreas. With the exception of testes, basal expression levels were very low in all tissues examined. However, application of thyroid hormones led to a 10- to 15-fold increase in liver glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA, whereas hypothyroidism further decreased the mRNA level.

Zonation of glucokinase in rat liver changes during postnatal development.

In the liver many metabolic pathways are preferentially localized in different zones of the acinus. It is assumed that this zonation allows an efficient adaptation to different states of nutrition, because alternative pathways can be regulated independently. It is reported that the rate limiting enzyme for the glycolytic pathway, glucokinase (EC 2.7.1.2), is predominantly located in the pericentral zone. The gene expression of glucokinase is induced to a maximum level after a carbohydrate-rich diet. In starved or diabetic rats glucokinase gene expression is barely detectable. In postnatal development glucokinase is induced to significant levels only from day 14 onwards. The distribution of the glucokinase protein in the rat liver lobule in the first 4 weeks of postnatal life was investigated by immunohistochemistry and compared to the distribution observed in adult rats. In adult rats considerably high levels of glucokinase are measureable as shown by immunoblotting utilizing a monospecific antibody and a photometric assay of glucokinase enzyme activity, respectively. Immunohistochemically the hepatic glucokinase protein is detected in the perivenous area. During postnatal development, the quantities of hepatic glucokinase protein and glucokinase enzyme activity start to increase significantly from day 15 onwards. Subsequently, glucokinase levels rise further until day 29. In contrast to the results obtained by immunoblotting, glucokinase is already detectable in some liver cells in sections from 6-day-old rats by immunohistochemistry. The liver lobule structure at this age is not completely developed, therefore it is not possible to definitely assign these cells to periportal or pericentral areas. At day 10 post partum the number of glucokinase expressing cells, which appear to be localized preferentially in the periportal zone, increases. In agreement with the immunoblotting, an immense increase in glucokinase activity was observed at day 14. The periportal zonation, clearly detectable at this time, remains stable until day 24. In sections from 29-day-old rats the periportal zonation begins to change into a more homogeneous pattern with a slight preference for periportal areas. The observed appearance of the periportal zonation of glucokinase during neonatal development is obviously in contrast to the perivenous expression of glucokinase in adult rats.

Mitochondrial metabolism in different thyroid states.

The protonmotive force, as well as the mitochondrial and cytosolic concentrations of malate, 2-oxoglutarate, glutamate and aspartate, were determined in livers from hypo-, eu- and hyper-thyroid rats, by density-gradient centrifugation of freeze-clamped livers in non-aqueous solvents [Soboll, Akerboom, Schwenke, Haase & Sies (1980) Biochem. J. 192, 951-954]. The mitochondrial/cytosolic pH difference and the membrane potential were significantly enhanced in hyperthyroid livers compared with the hypothyroid state, resulting in an increased protonmotive force in the presence of thyroid hormones [Soboll & Sies (1989) Methods Enzymol. 174, 118-130]. The mitochondrial concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate, glutamate and aspartate were significantly higher in the euthyroid than in the hypothyroid state, but only slightly higher in the hyperthyroid state. Mitochondrial malate, on the other hand, increased significantly from the hypothyroid to the hyperthyroid state. The mitochondrial/cytosolic concentration gradients were significantly increased in the presence of thyroid hormones only for malate. The changes in steady-state metabolite concentrations reflect a higher substrate supply and a stimulation of mitochondrial metabolism. However, a clear relationship between the increased protonmotive force, as the driving force for mitochondrial metabolite transport, and the subcellular metabolite concentrations is not observable in different thyroid states.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional effects of glucose on liver phosphoenolpyruvate-carboxykinase gene expression.

The present study investigates the effect of glucose on the gene expression of the hepatic glucoregulatory enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PPrvck). By use of hepatocytes in culture and FAO hepatoma cells it could be demonstrated that glucose suppressed the effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP), glucocorticoids or both, to increase PPrvck mRNA and consequently PPrvck enzyme activity. Glucose had a dual effect; it reduced PPrvck gene transcription and it accelerated the rate of PPrvck mRNA degradation. The effect was specific for glucose, as glucose-related carbohydrates such as mannose, galactose and sorbitol were without effect on PPrvck mRNA. The repressive effect of glucose was limited to certain proteins; glucose had no effect on Bt2cAMP and glucocorticoid provoked induction of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT). Also the pattern of mRNA in vitro translation products was virtually unaffected when FAO hepatoma cells were incubated either in the presence or absence of glucose, demonstrating the specificity of the effect of glucose on gene expression of selected proteins. In FAO hepatoma cells and in hepatocytes in culture, insulin, like glucose, also decreased PPrvck mRNA. While the effect of glucose and insulin was additive in FAO hepatoma cells, in primary hepatocytes in culture an effect of glucose by itself on PPrvck mRNA could only be demonstrated in the absence of insulin. Correspondingly also in vivo, the effect of glucose was demonstrated in the absence of insulin (provoked by streptozotocin diabetes); glucose application reduced the amount of hepatic PPrvck mRNA. To summarize, glucose is capable of suppressing the effect of glucocorticoids and Bt2cAMP on increasing the PPrvck mRNA level. The carbohydrate reduces the rate of PPrvck gene transcription and accelerates the rate of PPrvck mRNA degradation. While in FAO hepatoma cells the effect is evident in the presence of insulin, in hepatocytes in culture the effect of glucose cannot be demonstrated in the presence of insulin, questioning its role under physiological conditions.

Is the p29 protein involved in the rapid regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP)?

It has been postulated that a protein with a molecular mass of 29,000 daltons (p29), which copurifies with hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate (P-enolpyruvate) carboxykinase, forms a complex with the enzyme and stabilizes its sensitivity to Mn2+ activation by protecting critical sulfhydryl groups from oxidation (Brinkworth, R. I., Hanson, R. W., Fullin, F. A., and Schramm, V. L. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 10795-10802). In this paper we demonstrate that p29 is not only expressed in tissues which contain high amounts of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase, such as liver and kidney, but also in brain and muscle, which have no gluconeogenic function. Furthermore, p29 is expressed in rat liver prenatally, whereas P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase is induced only after birth. The effect of p29 to protect P-enopyruvate carboxykinase against aerobic oxidation during in vitro incubation was also observed for ovalbumin and bovine albumin. Peptide sequencing of the p29 and search in a protein data bank revealed a high homology to the muscle-specific subunit of human phosphoglycerate mutase (EC 2.7.5.3). Determination of the enzyme activity confirms the identification of the p29 as the rat liver isoform of phosphoglycerate mutase. Taking all these findings together, it is concluded that this protein has no specific effect on P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase.

Role of thyroid hormones in the regulation of hepatic glucokinase and phosphoenolpyruvate-carboxykinase gene expression during the starvation-refeeding transition.

Thyroid hormones act at the transcriptional level in the induction of the important hepatic glucoregulatory enzyme PEP-carboxykinase and glucokinase (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). They have no significant effect on the degradation of both enzymes, nor on the degradation of the specific mRNAs. A T3-receptor interaction is essential for their effect. Suggestions have been made for a thyroid hormone regulatory element in the promotor region of T3-dependent genes (for a review see [18]). Thyroid hormones probably do not determine the direction of the metabolic flux; however, they significantly enhance in a permissive way the transition from one state, e.g. starvation, to another, e.g. refeeding. And by enhancing significantly the activity of important regulatory enzymes, they enhance the flux of metabolites under different metabolic conditions, such as in starvation or after refeeding.

The chicken c-erbA alpha-product induces expression of thyroid hormone-responsive genes in 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine receptor-deficient rat hepatoma cells.

To determine the capacity of the chicken c-erbA (cTR-alpha) gene product in regulating expression of known thyroid hormone-responsive genes, both the cTR-alpha and the viral v-erbA genes were expressed in FAO cells, a rat hepatoma cell line defective for functional thyroid hormone receptors. Upon nuclear expression of the cTR-alpha protein the cells become responsive to thyroid hormone, as detected by expression of a number of genes (malic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and Na+/K(+)-ATPase) reported to be indirectly induced by the hormone in vivo. In addition, our data show that the c-erbA product directly activates the Moloney murine leukemia virus promoter in a ligand-dependent manner. The data show that the chicken c-erbA-alpha protein can modulate the expression of rat genes under either direct or indirect control by thyroid hormone.

Effect of thyroid hormones on glucokinase gene transcription in rat liver.

Thyroid hormones contribute to the regulation of blood sugar by accelerating the turnover of glucose. The mechanism by which thyroid hormones stimulate the rate of glucose utilization in the liver was determined by investigating the effect of different thyroid states on the expression of the glucokinase gene, a key enzyme of glycolysis. In euthyroid rats the mass of glucokinase mRNA increased 8-fold during the first 4 h of refeeding a high carbohydrate diet to 48-h starved rats. In hypothyroid rats under the same conditions only a 2-fold induction was observed. In euthyroid rats a 5-fold increase was obtained 1 h after refeeding, while hypothyroid rats displayed no significant response in glucokinase mRNA within this time. Basal levels of glucokinase mRNA in starved rats were the same observed in eu- and hypothyroid rats. Injection of 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) into hypothyroid rats restored the mRNA levels of refed hypothyroid rats to euthyroid levels within 24 h. However, a 3-fold increase over untreated animals was already observed 3 h after T3 administration. Even subphysiological doses of T3 (0.1 microgram/100 g body weight) led to an significant increase in glucokinase mRNA levels (1.5-fold, p less than 0.05) in hypothyroid rats, whereas higher doses (100 micrograms/100 g body weight) restored the mRNA levels to those of euthyroid controls. Parallel increases in the cytosolic mRNA levels and rate of glucokinase gene transcription were detected when hypo- and euthyroid fasted rats were compared after 4 h of refeeding. It is concluded that thyroid hormones are permissive for the induction of glucokinase during refeeding but have no effect during starvation. They rapidly enhance the rate of gene transcription within the range of their physiologically circulating concentrations. The results suggest a major importance of thyroid hormones in regulating glucose utilization.

Rapid stimulation of hepatic oxygen consumption by 3,5-di-iodo-L-thyronine.

Tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) as well as 3,5-di-iodothyronine (T2) stimulated O2 consumption by isolated perfused livers from hypothyroid rats at a concentration as low as 1 pM by about 30% within 90 min. Application of T2 resulted in a faster stimulation than with application of T3 or T4. Inhibition of iodothyronine monodeiodinase by propylthiouracil, thereby blocking the degradation of T4 to T3 and of T3 to T2, demonstrated that only T2 is the active hormone for the rapid stimulation of hepatic O2 consumption: T3 and T4 lost all of their stimulative activity, whereas T2 was as potent as in the absence of propylthiouracil. Perfusion experiments with thyroid-hormone analogues confirmed the specificity of the T2 effect. The nucleus is unlikely to contribute to the rapid T2 effect, as can be deduced from perfusion experiments with cycloheximide and lack of induction of malic enzyme by T2. In conclusion, a new scheme of regulation of mitochondrial activity is proposed: T2 acts rapidly and directly via a mitochondrial pathway, whereas T3 exerts its long-term action indirectly by induction of specific enzymes.

Glucoregulatory function of thyroid hormones: evidence for an insulin-independent effect.

The effect of hyperglycemia on glucose kinetics was investigated in normal and T4-treated miniature pigs. 1. T4-treatment increased basal plasma glucose (G) (+ 20%) and glucose turnover (+36%). 2. Glucose infusion (2 mg/kg x min) in controls increased insulin and glucose utilization (Rd), but decreased glucagon and hepatic glucose production (Ra). After T4-treatment glucose increased insulin, decreased glucagon and Ra but only a slight effect on G and Rd were observed. 3. Infusing glucose + somatostatin resulted in hyperglycemia in both groups due to an initial fall in Ra and Rd followed by an increase in Rd, where total Ra (endogenous + exogenous exceeded Rd. Glucose intolerance was more pronounced in controls, due to a T4-induced increase in Rd. During this non-steady state the increment in Rd per increment in G was calculated and showed 1.5 in controls and 2.5 after T4-treatment. These data give evidence that thyroid hormones increase glucose utilization during hypoinsulinemia.