Presence of growth factors-induced type III iodothyronine 5-deiodinase in cultured rat brown adipocytes

We found low T3 concentrations in rat brown adipocytes differentiated in vitro. This might be due to the high metabolic rate of T3, possibly caused by elevated type III iodothyronine 5-deiodinase activity (5DIII), induced by serum growth factors. We tested the ability of several growth factors to induce 5DIII activity. Epidermal growth factor and basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors produced a strong induction of 5DIII activity (25, 45-, and 50-fold, respectively). This process required gene transcription and de novo protein synthesis. The half-life of 5DIII was approximately 3 h. Heparin was required for full acidic fibroblast growth factor activity. Platelet-derived growth factor, vasopressin, and insulin-like growth factor-I induced lower 5DIII activities (3- to 6-fold). Vasopressin amplified basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor inductions when used at submaximal doses. We found a Km of 22.5 nM using T3 as substrate. Although brown adipose tissue has undetectable 5DIII activities in vivo, the present data explain the low T3 concentrations found in cultured rat brown adipocytes and suggest that growth factors, by stimulating 5DIII, may lead to low T3 concentrations and indirectly inhibit the expression of some genes regulated by T3, e.g. the rat uncoupling protein.

Effects of thyroid hormone deiodination on regulation of thyroid axis in undernourished rats

The possible influence of hypothalamic and pituitary 5'-deiodinase II (5'-D-II) activity and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) content on the modulation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) synthesis was studied. 1) Alterations in 5'-D-II activity and hypothalamic and pituitary T3 content produced by undernutrition were observed in fetal (21 days) and neonatal rats vs. controls. 2) After thyroidectomy, plasma TSH increased in both populations, undernourished and control, but pituitary TSH increased only in the former and not in the latter. The results obtained by giving small doses of thyroxine (T4; 0.5 micrograms/100 g body wt) to intact and thyroidectomized rats suggest a lower inhibitory effect by T4 on the pituitary in undernourished than in control rats. Although hypothalamic and pituitary 5'-D-II activity increased in both groups after thyroidectomy, the percentage increase was lower in undernourished vs. control rats, resulting in lower overall T3 content in tissues from undernourished animals. These studies on thyroid axis regulation show the in vivo regulation of TSH synthesis by hypothalamic and pituitary 5'-D-II activity and T3 content.

Thyroid hormone controls the cell-specific expression of the kidney androgen-regulated protein gene in S3 mouse kidney cells

The kidney androgen-regulated protein (KAP) gene is expressed in epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules of mouse kidney. Although TSH proved to be necessary for the constitutive expression of the gene in the outer stripe of the outer medulla, androgens are responsible for expression in cortical segments of the proximal tubules. We have used the congenital thyroid hormone (TH)-deficient hyt/hyt mouse to demonstrate that TH, and not TSH, is responsible for the constitutive expression of the gene in the mouse kidney. Although the androgen-dependent cortical response is partially impaired in hypothyroid mice, the expression can be fully restored after the administration of TH or pharmacological doses of testosterone, suggesting some cooperativity between TH and androgens in promoting cortical KAP gene expression. Results in hyt/hyt mice after treatment with retinoic acid, alone or in combination with TH, demonstrated that this regulator does not have any effect on the regulation of the KAP gene in mouse kidney and that induction of the gene by T3 does not require heterodimerization of TR with retinoic acid-related receptors. By using immunocytochemical analysis and specific antibodies against alpha- and beta-TH receptors we have determined the presence of both types of receptors in all segments of the proximal tubules.

Thyroid hormones in tissues from fetal and adult rats

Concentrations of T4 and T3 were recently measured in rat fetal tissues, and the reported values were found to be more than 10-fold higher than those found by us. The differences have been explained by the assumption that previous analytical procedures, neither avoid deiodination during autopsy of the animals or during extraction and purification, because phloretin [(3'),4',4,6-(tetra)trihydroxyaurone], a potent inhibitor of 5'-iodothyronine deiodinase activity in vitro, had not been used to prevent such problems. We here show that perfusion with phloretin during autopsy does not affect 5'-iodothyronine activity or T4 and T3 concentrations in liver, kidney, or brain. Evidence is also provided that the addition of phloretin during the homogenization process is superfluous, as the use of 80% ethanol and 0.02 M NaOH for this step results in undetectable deiodinase activity. Data are presented showing that during the final sample drying, no losses or degradation of T4 and T3 occur, confirming the adequacy of the individual recovery corrections using radiolabeled iodothyronines as internal tracers. We also present quantitative information on the intralaboratory variability of the T4 and T3 concentrations found in tissues from normal fetuses and their mothers as well as in adult males and nonpregnant females. Results are comparable to those obtained by others using entirely different analytical procedures.

Malic enzyme gene expression in differentiating brown adipocytes: regulation by insulin and triiodothyronine

Primary cultures of brown adipocytes were used to investigate the regulation of malic enzyme (ME) gene expression by insulin and T3. No ME gene expression was detected in undifferentiated preadipocytes. The levels of ME mRNA increased slightly during cell differentiation. Physiological doses of insulin or T3 increased ME gene expression, which reached a maximum after 24 h, on whichever culture day they were added. The effects of insulin and T3 were at the transcriptional level, as measured by run-on assays. Both hormones also increased the stabilization of the transcripts and required ongoing protein synthesis to exert their effects. A comparison of the potencies of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I and -II (IGF-I and -II) in this system indicated that induction by insulin is mediated via its own receptor. The effects of insulin and T3 were independent of the extracellular glucose concentration, but were additive to that of glucose. Moreover, insulin and T3 act additively to increase ME gene expression, suggesting that they interact either at the transcription level or that of mRNA stabilization.

Effects of iodine deficiency on thyroid hormone metabolism and the brain in fetal rats: the role of the maternal transfer of thyroxin

Thyroid hormones, thyroxin (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), of maternal origin, are available to the mammalian embryo early in development. However, after the onset of fetal thyroid function, they are of both fetal and maternal origin. Maternal T4 has a protective effect on the fetal brain in cases of congenital hypothyroidism. In severe iodine deficiency, maternal T4 is low, although T3 is normal; the developing embryo is markedly T4-deficient; and T3 deficiency increases with gestational age. In contrast to mechanisms in the hypothyroid fetus from a normal mother, the low T4 of the iodine-deficient mother prevents any protective effects on the fetal brain. Thyroid hormone deficiency of the iodine-deficient fetus, including the brain, is more severe and prolonged than it is in the cases of maternal or fetal thyroid failures. These findings may help to explain the relationship between severe maternal hypothyroxinemia and the severe central nervous system damage of the neurological endemic cretin.

The rat placenta and the transfer of thyroid hormones from the mother to the fetus. Effects of maternal thyroid status

We have studied the effects of maternal thyroid status on the effectiveness of the rat placenta near term as a barrier for the transfer of T4 and T3 to the fetus. Dams were given methimazole to minimize the fetal contribution to the T4 and T3 pools, so that the iodothyronines found in the conceptus are ultimately of maternal origin. The dams were infused with saline, or with T4 or T3 at doses ranging from 2.3-27.8 nmol T4 and from 0.77-20.7 nmol T3/100 g BW per day. A group of normal pregnant dams (C) was included. At 21 days of gestation T4, T3, and rT3 were measured by RIA in maternal and fetal plasma, and in maternal and fetal sides of the placenta. The total fetal extrathyroidal T4 and T3 pools were also determined. The dose-related changes in T4, T3, and rT3 levels in the placenta confirm the presence of both inner and outer ring iodothyronine deiodinase activities, and suggest increasing accumulation of the iodothyronines. Despite this, fetal extrathyroidal T4 and T3 increase progressively in T4-infused groups as a function of maternal circulating T4 levels. Fetal extrathyroidal T3 increases progressively in T3-infused groups as a function of maternal plasma T3. There was no evidence that the net maternal contribution of T4 or T3 would be proportionally less when the maternal pools became very high. It was concluded that the rat placenta is only a limited barrier for the transfer of T4 and T3 to the fetus.

Thyroid hormones and 5'-deiodinase activity in neonatal undernourished rats

Undernutrition was induced in rats submitted to food restriction from the fetal stage, and malnutrition was continued after birth until 70 days of life. Body weight was decreased to less than 50%. Plasma T4 and T3 and pituitary TSH content were determined between 8-70 days of life. In control rats, plasma T4 and T3 reached a maximum at 14 and 35 days of life, respectively, and TSH pituitary content at 45 days of life. In undernourished rats, after 8 days of life, plasma T4 and T3 and pituitary TSH content were decreased to about 50% or less, and the pattern of sequential changes observed in control rats was absent or modified. T4 and T3 concentrations were measured in heart, liver, and brain in the fetus (22 days old) and 8, 14, and 23 days after birth, as well as liver and brain 5'-deiodinases (5'D). Hepatic 5'D type I was always decreased in undernourished rats from 8-70 days after birth. Liver and heart T4 and T3 concentrations were decreased in 14-day-old undernourished rats as well as brain T3. Brain 5'D type II was decreased at 8 and 14 days, and total brain 5'D activities at 8 days. These changes occurred during the critical period for brain development (7th to 20th day) during which most processes of myelination take place and T3 brain normal levels are required.

Outer ring iodothyronine deiodinases and thyroid hormone economy: responses to iodine deficiency in the rat fetus and neonate

Female rats were fed a low iodine diet (LID) or the same diet supplemented with KI (IOD) and mated. Plasma TSH, T4 and T3 in thyroid, plasma, and tissues, and 5'-deiodinase activities (5'D) were measured in maternal, fetal, and neonatal samples. Plasma T4 was markedly reduced in LID dams, TSH was increased, and T3 was normal. Placental T4 was decreased to 10%, and placental T3 to 50%. In LID fetuses there was a complete depletion of both extrathyroidal and intrathyroidal stores of T4 and T3. The thyroid responded with increased synthesis and secretion of T3 over T4, as assessed from the T3 to T4 ratios. Near birth, brain T4 and T3 concentrations were only 6.7% and 12% of those in IOD fetuses, despite a marked increase in brain 5'D-II and a T4-sparing decrease in liver and lung 5'D-I. Brown adipose tissue 5'D-II increased 7-fold, and brown adipose tissue T4 and T3 concentrations were only decreased by 50%. After birth, the availability of iodine improved somewhat through maternal milk, and the thyroidal and extrathyroidal pools of T4 and T3 increased, although they remained much lower than those in IOD pups. Brain 5'D-II markedly increased in LID pups, and this together with an increase in plasma and brain T4 ensured almost normal brain T3 during the suckling period. The thyroidal secretion of T3 over T4 continued to be increased in LID pups during the suckling period and appeared to be related to their high circulating TSH levels. Both LID fetuses and newborns can respond to iodine deficiency as adults rats, but the fetus is more sensitive to LID because of its dependence on maternal T4. The success of the adaptative mechanisms in protecting the brain from severe T3 deficiency depends on the supply of iodine, the limiting factor for the synthesis of T4.

Maternal hypothyroidism and fetal chondro-osseous development in rats

The bone development of rat fetuses from female Wistar rats thyroidectomized prior to mating was studied, between 16 and 21 days of gestation. The parameters studied in each rat fetus were fetal weight, number of fetuses per litter, radiological data and frequency of appearance of ossification centers, diaphyseal radiological length of long bones, longitudinal ratio between epiphysis and diaphysis of long bones on cleaned and stained limbs, and volumetric tibial studies on the same limbs. Our results show a delay of fetal chondro-osseous development and a delay of weight increase in fetuses from thyroidectomized rats. After onset of fetal thyroid function, the fetal development begins a catch-up growth, which is not sufficient to completely overcome development delay prior to birth.

Thyroid hormones and 5'-deiodinase in the rat fetus late in gestation: effects of maternal hypothyroidism

Having previously observed that T4 and T3 levels in fetal rat brain and brown adipose tissue are clearly higher than expected from their low circulating levels, we have now studied thyroid hormone concentrations and 5'-deiodinase activities (5'D) in several other rat fetal tissues during the last 6 days of gestation (dg), namely 17-22 dg. This period comprises the onset of fetal thyroid activity. Total thyroidal T4 and T3 contents increased 100- and 400-fold, respectively; T4 concentrations increased 8- to 10-fold in plasma, carcass, lung, and liver, and T3 increased 4.5- to 9-fold, except in plasma and liver, where T3 levels increased less than 2-fold in plasma and 3-fold in liver. During this developmental period 5'D activity increased 5- and 10-fold in fetal liver and lung, respectively. In fetuses from hypothyroid [thyroidectomized (T)] dams, body weight was lower than in fetuses from normal dams. Total thyroidal T4 and T3 contents were initially the same, but decreased markedly in fetuses from T dams by the end of gestation. At the earliest fetal ages studied (17-18 dg) T4 and T3 concentrations were lower in carcass, liver, lung, and brain, although near term there were no consistent differences between the fetal tissues from T and control dams, probably because of compensatory stimulation of thyroidal secretion. Liver 5'D was decreased by 50% throughout gestation, and lung 5'D activities were lower by the end of gestation. Thyroid hormones in placentas from T dams were very low, but increased by the end of gestation because of the contribution by the fetal thyroid. Present results describe the ontogenic profiles for thyroid hormone concentrations and 5'D activities during late fetal development; active regulatory mechanisms are already present at this age. It has been frequently stated that rat fetuses near term are deficient in thyroid hormones, and that their thyroid hormone economy is independent of maternal thyroid status, but present results show that near term, T4 and T3 concentrations in several tissues reach levels that are 50% or more of those described for adult animals, and that fetal thyroid function is influenced by maternal hypothyroidism.

Congenital hypothyroidism, as studied in rats. Crucial role of maternal thyroxine but not of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine in the protection of the fetal brain

To study the protective effects of maternal thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) in congenital hypothyroidism, we gave pregnant rats methimazole (MMI), an antithyroid drug that crosses the placenta, and infused them with three different doses of T4 or T3. The concentrations of both T4 and T3 were determined in maternal and fetal plasma and tissues (obtained near term) by specific RIAs. Several thyroid hormone-dependent biological end-points were also measured. MMI treatment resulted in marked fetal T4 and T3 deficiency. Infusion of T4 into the mothers increased both these pools in a dose-dependent fashion. There was a preferential increase of T3 in the fetal brain. Thus, with a T4 dose maintaining maternal euthyroidism, fetal brain T3 reached normal values, although fetal plasma T4 was 40% of normal and plasma TSH was high. The infusion of T3 pool into the mothers increased the total fetal extrathyroidal T3 pool in a dose-dependent fashion. The fetal T4 pools were not increased, however, and this deprived the fetal brain (and possibly the pituitary) of local generation of T3 from T4. As a consequence, fetal brain T3 deficiency was not mitigated even when dams were infused with a toxic dose of T3. The results show that (a) there is a preferential protection of the brain of the hypothyroid fetus from T3 deficiency; (b) maternal T4, but not T3, plays a crucial role in this protection, and (c) any condition which lowers maternal T4 (including treatment with T3) is potentially harmful for the brain of a hypothyroid fetus. Recent confirmation of transplacental passage of T4 in women at term suggests that present results are relevant for human fetuses with impairment of thyroid function. Finding signs of hypothyroidism at birth does not necessarily mean that the brain was unprotected in utero, provided maternal T4 is normal. It is crucial to realize that maintainance of maternal "euthyroidism" is not sufficient, as despite hypothyroxinemia, the mothers may be clinically euthyroid if their T3 levels are normal.

Thyroid hormones and 5'-deiodinase in rat brown adipose tissue during fetal life

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'D) activities are very high during fetal life but decrease 10-fold a few hours before birth. Accordingly, BAT 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations are also very high. The temporal patterns of changes in BAT 5'-D and fetal plasma insulin are similar (and differ from the pattern for catecholamines) but are not superimposable. A causal role for insulin in the activation of fetal BAT 5'-D is therefore not supported by the data. Maternal thyroidectomy leads to a decrease in the total and relative weight of fetal BAT and to a 30-50% increase in BAT 5'-D activities; BAT thyroid hormone concentrations are essentially unchanged. Fetal hypothyroidism was induced by giving methimazole and resulted in a marked decrease of BAT thyroxine (T4) and T3 concentrations. This treatment increased BAT 5'-D activity only on day 21 of gestation, but no effect was observed on day 20. The fetal 5'-D response to thyroid hormones infused into the methimazole-treated dams was studied at 21 days of gestation. The increase in BAT 5'-D induced by methimazole treatment was prevented by T4 infused into control dams but not by T3. In fetuses from thyroidectomized dams, the pattern of 5'-D regulation by thyroid hormones was impaired. It is suggested that the high concentrations of thyroid hormones present in fetal BAT might participate in the general maturation and development of fetal BAT.

Postnatal recruitment of brown adipose tissue is induced by the cold stress experienced by the pups. An analysis of mRNA levels for thermogenin and lipoprotein lipase

In order to investigate the postnatal recruitment process, gene expression in the brown adipose tissue of rat pups was followed during the first 20 h of life. In normal pups, the level of mRNA coding for the uncoupling protein thermogenin increased markedly but gradually within the first 24 h. Lipoprotein lipase and actin mRNA levels were relatively low and remained constant. In pups exposed to thermoneutral temperature (35 degrees C) for the first 12 h after birth, no increase in thermogenin mRNA or lipoprotein lipase mRNA was observed, whereas in pups exposed to 28 degrees C a clear increase in both thermogenin and lipoprotein lipase mRNA levels was found. Actin mRNA levels were not affected by the environmental temperature under these circumstances. It was concluded that the postnatal recruitment in brown adipose tissue is a consequence of the cold stress experienced by the newborn pups. Thus, postnatal recruitment is not ontogenically predetermined.

Generalized deficiency of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) in tissues from rats on a low iodine intake, despite normal circulating T3 levels

Rats fed a low iodine diet have decreased total and nuclear T3 concentrations in the liver and brain, as compared with rats supplemented with iodine, possibly because of the very low plasma and tissue T4 pools in low-iodine diet rats, leading to decreased intracellular generation of T3 in those tissues. If so, T3 levels should not decrease in heart and skeletal muscle, as plasma T3 is normal in low-iodine diet rats and these two tissues derive their intracellular T3 directly from plasma T3. We have studied this point in male rats fed a low-iodine diet, a low-iodine diet + iodine, and the stock diet. As in previous studies, low-iodine rats had very low plasma T4 and high plasma TSH levels, plasma T3 levels being normal. Liver T3 decreased, and so did the brain T3 levels despite a compensatory increase in type II 5' iodothyronine deiodinase activity. Contrary to expectations, T3 concentrations were lower in the heart and skeletal muscle of low-iodine diet rats. Attempts to clarify the possible mechanism(s) involved have been unsuccessful so far. The present results show that, despite normal plasma T3, a deficiency of T3 occurs in more tissues of rats on a low iodine intake than previously assumed. If the present results are pertinent to inhabitants from areas with severe iodine deficiency, it would appear that they might suffer from a generalized tissue T3 deficiency (and hypothyroidism?), even if overt clinical signs are not usually present.

Comparison of maternal to fetal transfer of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine versus thyroxine in rats, as assessed from 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine levels in fetal tissues

Thyroxine (T4) is transferred from the mother to the hypothyroid rat fetus late in gestation, mitigating T4 and T3 deficiency in fetal tissues, the brain included. We have now compared the effects of maternal infusion with T3. Normal and thyroidectomized rats were started on methimazole (MMI) on the 14th day of gestation, given alone, or together with a constant infusion of 0.45 micrograms (0.69 nmol) T3 or of 1.8 microgram (2.3 nmol) T4/100 g per day. Maternal and fetal samples were obtained at the 21st day of gestation. The doses of T3 and T4 were biologically equivalent for the dams, as assessed from maternal plasma and tissue T3, and plasma TSH levels. MMI blocked the fetal thyroid; T4 and T3 levels were low in all fetal tissues, and fetal plasma TSH was high. Maternal infusion with T4 mitigated both T4 and T3 deficiency in all fetal tissues, the brain included, and decreased fetal plasma TSH. In contrast, infusion of T3 normalized fetal plasma T3 and increased the T3 levels in several tissues, but not in the brain. Neither did it decrease the high fetal plasma TSH levels. The results show that when the fetus is hypothyroid, T3 crosses the rat placenta at the end of gestation, but does not affect all tissues to the same degree. In contrast to the effects of maternal T4, maternal T3 does not alleviate the T3 deficiency of the brain or, presumably, of the thyrotrope. Thus, end-points of thyroid hormone action related to TSH release should not be used to measure transfer of maternal T3 to the fetal compartment. Moreover, T4 should be given, and not T3 to protect the hypothyroid fetal brain.

Developmental changes in rat brain 5'-deiodinase and thyroid hormones during the fetal period: the effects of fetal hypothyroidism and maternal thyroid hormones

We have studied the ontogenesis of 5'-deiodinase (5'D) activity in rat brain during fetal life, its capacity to respond to maternal or fetal hypothyroidism, and its regulation by maternal thyroid hormones. Type II 5'D (5' D-II) activity increases 4-fold during the period studied (17 to 22 days of gestation), mainly between days 19 and 21. Fetal brain T4 concentrations increase in parallel with fetal plasma T4, whereas fetal brain T3 concentrations increase 18 times (days 17-21), six times more than would have been expected from the small increase in fetal plasma T3 levels. Maternal thyroidectomy did not affect 5'D-II activity or thyroid hormone concentrations in fetal brain (except brain T4 at 18 days of gestation). Fetal hypothyroidism, induced by giving a goitrogen (methimazole) to the mothers, depleted all fetal tissues studied, including the fetal thyroid, from thyroid hormones. By 19 days of gestation, the fetal brain was able to respond to hypothyroidism with a 3- to 5-fold increase in 5'D-II activity. Earlier onset of treatment with methimazole led to 2- to 3-fold increases in 5'D already at 17 and 18 days of gestation, showing that when fetal thyroid secretion starts the fetal brain 5'D-II is able to respond to hypothyroidism. Replacement of methimazole-treated mothers with physiological doses of T4, given by constant infusion, increased T4 and T3 concentrations in fetal brain, and inhibited fetal, as well as maternal, brain 5'D-II activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity and thyroid hormone content in brown adipose tissue during the breeding cycle of the rat

Brown adipose tissue iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity is significantly lower in 17-day pregnant rats compared with virgin controls and remains low during late pregnancy and lactation. It fully recovers with abrupt weaning, but only partially with spontaneous weaning. Even though this profile of changes is remarkably in step with the known pattern of modifications in brown fat thermogenesis during the breeding cycle, the lowered iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity appearing between days 15 and 17 of pregnancy occurs earlier than the reduction in brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. Brown fat 3,3',5-tri-iodothyronine content is also reduced in late pregnant, early and mid-lactating rats, most probably as a consequence of the lowered 5'-deiodination of thyroxine in situ. Acute insulin treatment increases brown fat iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity in virgin animals as well as in late-pregnant and lactating rats, despite the lowered basal enzyme activity levels in the latter groups. Thus an impaired response to insulin in brown fat does not appear to be a factor leading to the lowered iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity during late pregnancy and lactation.

Iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity in rat brown adipose tissue during development

Iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity in rat brown adipose tissue has a characteristic pattern of developmental changes that is completely different from that of the liver. Fetal brown fat exhibits an extremely high iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity that is approx. 10-fold that in adult rats. Even though brown fat iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity falls suddenly at birth, there is a new peak in the activity around days 5-7 of life, whereas it remains very low afterwards. Just after birth, brown adipose tissue iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity is already capable of stimulation by noradrenaline. The postnatal peak in brown fat iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase correlates with the known increase in the thermogenic activity of the tissue in the neonatal rat, thus reinforcing the suggestion that local 3',3,5-triiodothyronine generation could be an important event related to thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. However, the high fetal activity was only slightly related to the thermogenic activity of brown fat. Moreover, the increased iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase activity of brown adipose tissue during fetal and neonatal life suggests a substantial contribution by brown fat in the overall extrathyroidal 3',3,5-triiodothyronine production in these physiological periods.

Cerebral hypothyroidism in rats with adult-onset iodine deficiency

Rats fed chronically a low iodine diet may have low serum T4 and high circulating TSH, despite normal serum T3. As the brain depends to a great extent on intracellular generation of T3 from T4 for its total and nuclear T3, we have carried out two experiments to determine whether the brain of iodine-deficient rats may become hypothyroid, despite normal serum T3 levels. In both experiments we confirmed previous data, showing that the pituitary and liver of iodine-deficient rats with very low plasma T4 levels are hypothyroid as compared to those of animals receiving the same diet supplemented with KI, though not as markedly as animals which had undetectable circulating levels of both T4 and T3 as a consequence of chronic ingestion of KC1O-4, or of surgical thyroidectomy. We have further found that the nuclear T3 content was decreased in the brain of iodine-deficient rats, as compared with the animals on the iodine-supplemented diet. The nuclear to plasma ratios of labeled T3 showed that the uptake of this hormone into liver and brain nuclei is not decreased in the iodine-deficient rats as compared with those on the iodine-supplemented diet. This finding indicates that the decreased liver and brain nuclear T3 contents of iodine-deficient rats are likely to be a consequence of the marked reduction of their T4 pool, leading to decreased amounts of intracellularly generated T3. The number of spines on shafts of pyramidal neurons from the visual cortex of iodine-deficient rats was lower than that of rats fed the same diet supplemented with KI. Their distributions along the shaft were also not the same. Such changes might well be an index of cerebral hypothyroidism, as they are similar to those found after thyroidectomy of adult rats. It is concluded from the present findings that normal circulating T3 levels may not be sufficient to maintain brain euthyroidism in rats fed a diet iodine deficient enough to result in very low circulating T4 levels.

Decreased T4 to T3 conversion in tissues of streptozotocin-diabetic rats

The effect of experimental diabetes on T4 to T3 conversion, T3-deiodination, and the pituitary response to a dose of T4 and T3 was studied. Pituitary GH and plasma TSH were determined as a measure of the biological response to thyroid hormones. Thyroidectomized rats, 5 days after injection with saline or streptozotocin (thyroidectomized-control (Th.C) and thyroidectomized-diabetic (Th.D) rats, respectively) received an ip dose of T4 + [125I]T4 or T3 + [125I]T3. Rats from each group were sacrificed at varying intervals after thyroid hormone injection. Th.D rats had hyperglycaemia, glycosuria, and a body weight of about 80% of that of Th.C rats. The concentrations of [125I]T4 and [125I]T3 were measured in several tissues after ethanol extraction, separation by thin-layer chromatography, and identification with markers. Plasma TSH and pituitary GH were measured by specific RIAs. Diabetes decreased the conversion of T4 to T3 in several tissues, including the pituitary, but did not affect the deiodination of T3. The decrease in pituitary T3 content after a dose of T4 was accompanied by a diminution of the biological effect of the T4 dose on pituitary GH. Since diabetes also interferes with this biological response to a T3 dose, it seems likely that the reduced biological effect of thyroid hormones on pituitary GH may be related to an alteration in the somatotrophin T3 receptors, or in post-receptor events. Moreover, the data indicate that although T3 generation in the pituitary was reduced, the same dose of T4 had a greater inhibitory effect on TSH secretion in Th.D rats than in Th.C rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analytical artifacts in radioimmunoassay of L-thyroxin in human milk

Previous results are contradictory regarding the concentration of thyroxin in human milk. Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay, we have found a lack of parallelism between the standard curve for thyroxin and the curve for serial dilutions of whole human milk, skimmed milk, or ethanol extracts of milk. Nonspecific binding also indicated the presence of analytical artifacts. Thus we have separated thyroxin from other milk components by means of a strongly basic Bio-Rad anion-exchange resin with quaternary ammonium exchange groups attached to a styrene divinyl benzene copolymer lattice, radioimmunoassaying the fractions eluted with an equivolume mixture of acetic acid and water. Parallelism with the standard curve was good, and results were the same whether or not the resin eluate was further purified by paper chromatography. The range of thyroxin concentration in 21 samples of human milk was 0.29-2.00 micrograms/L (mean 0.71, SD 0.40, microgram/L). Such concentrations are unlikely to afford protection to the developing brain of a breast-fed athyreotic baby, as previously claimed.

Analytical artifacts in radioimmunoassay of L-thyroxin in human milk

Previous results are contradictory regarding the concentration of thyroxin in human milk. Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay, we have found a lack of parallelism between the standard curve for thyroxin and the curve for serial dilutions of whole human milk, skimmed milk, or ethanol extracts of milk. Nonspecific binding also indicated the presence of analytical artifacts. Thus we have separated thyroxin from other milk components by means of a strongly basic Bio-Rad anion-exchange resin with quaternary ammonium exchange groups attached to a styrene divinyl benzene copolymer lattice, radioimmunoassaying the fractions eluted with an equivolume mixture of acetic acid and water. Parallelism with the standard curve was good, and results were the same whether or not the resin eluate was further purified by paper chromatography. The range of thyroxin concentration in 21 samples of human milk was 0.29-2.00 micrograms/L (mean 0.71, SD 0.40, microgram/L). Such concentrations are unlikely to afford protection to the developing brain of a breast-fed athyreotic baby, as previously claimed.

Thyroxine radioimmunoassay for population surveys using dried blood: modifications of a highly sensitive method

A highly sensitive radioimmunoassay for the determination of thyroxine in blood spotted on filter paper is described. The radioimmunoassay developed by Weeke and Orskov for determination of serum thyroxine was simplified and shortened, and its cost was decreased, for use in programmes for mass screening of thyroid function. The method permits the use of small (2 mm diameter) dried blood dots, thus avoiding interference by binding proteins. Polyethylene glycol 6000 is used for the final separation of antibody bound labelled thyroxine, instead of the expensive and time-consuming wick chromatography used in the reference method. Serum thyroxine concentrations obtained using dried blood by the modified procedure correlate well with those obtained using serum by the reference method. The distribution of serum thyroxine concentration for a population of 2134 babies is given.