The thyroid

Thyroid status is a key regulator of both flux and efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in rat hepatocytes

Thyroid status is crucial in energy homeostasis, but despite extensive studies the actual mechanism by which it regulates mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis is still unclear. We studied oxidative phosphorylation in both intact liver cells and isolated mitochondria from in vivo models of severe not life threatening hyper- and hypothyroidism. Thyroid status correlated with cellular and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates as well as with maximal mitochondrial ATP production. Addition of a protonophoric uncoupler, 2,4-dinitrophenol, to hepatocytes did not mimic the cellular energetic change linked to hyperthyroidism. Mitochondrial content of cytochrome oxidase, ATP synthase, phosphate and adenine nucleotide carriers were increased in hyperthyroidism and decreased in hypothyroidism as compared to controls. As a result of these complex changes, the maximal rate of ATP synthesis increased in hyperthyroidism despite a decrease in ATP/O ratio, while in hypothyroidism ATP/O ratio increased but did not compensate for the flux limitation of oxidative phosphorylation. We conclude that energy homeostasis depends on a compromise between rate and efficiency, which is mainly regulated by thyroid hormones.

Role of thyroid hormone in postnatal circulatory and metabolic adjustments

To assess the role of the early postnatal surge in plasma thyroid hormone concentrations on cardiovascular and metabolic adaptations, we measured cardiac output, total oxygen consumption, and plasma triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations in three groups of lambs in the first 6 h after delivery. 15 fetal lambs were prepared at gestational ages of 128-129 d by placing catheters in the brachiocephalic artery, descending aorta, distal inferior vena cava, left atrium, and pulmonary artery so that measurements could be made soon after delivery. They were divided into three groups: Group I comprised five control animals; Group II consisted of five fetuses in which thyroidectomy was performed at surgery at 129 d gestation; and Group III consisted of five animals in which thyroidectomy was performed at term gestation during delivery by caesarian section, prior to severing the umbilical cord. The lambs in Group I exhibited a rapid postnatal rise in T3 concentrations, similar to that described previously, reaching a peak value of about 5 ng/ml. Although the postnatal surge in T3 concentration was arrested in Group II and III animals, Group II had no detectable plasma T3, while the Group III animals had T3 concentrations of about 0.8 ng/ml, which were within the range previously reported for term lamb fetuses. The lambs in group II showed 40-50% lower left ventricular outputs (190 vs. 297 ml/kg per min), systemic blood flows (155 vs. 286 ml/kg per min), and oxygen consumptions (9.8 vs. 20.2 ml/kg per min) as compared with Group I animals over the entire 6-h period. The lambs in Group II also had significantly lower heart rates (131 vs. 192 beats/min) and mean systemic arterial pressures (56 vs. 72 torr). However, there were no significant differences for any of these measurements between the Group III and Group I lambs. The reduction in cardiac output in the Group II animals were reflected in a significantly lower blood flow to the peripheral circulation, but there were no significant differences in blood flow to other organs in the three groups. These studies indicate that plasma thyroid concentrations in the 2-3 wk prior to delivery and not the increase in thyroid hormone concentrations which occur after birth are important for postnatal cardiovascular and metabolic adjustments. We speculate that lack of circulating triiodothyronine in late gestation may affect postnatal cardiovascular adaptation by modifying normal beta adrenergic receptor development.

Direct and correlated responses to selection for plasma thyroxine levels in mice

Selection was carried out in mice for concentration of thyroxine hormone (T4) in plasma of males at 11 weeks of age over seven generations. Selection was practised for high level in two replicate lines and for low level in two replicate lines, and there was an unselected control. There was a response in both directions, and the divergence of 12·4 ng/ml observed in generation seven was equivalent to about 20% of the base population mean or nearly one phenotypic standard deviation. The realised heritability was 9%.

Plasma thyroxine level had a repeatability of 0·54 when two measurements were made 24 h apart. The responses made at 11 weeks in males were also evident in both males and females at 5 weeks. Plasma tri-iodo thyronine (T3) concentrations showed a correlated response almost as large, relative to the mean level, as that in T4.

Positive correlated responses were observed in total weights of the litter at 12 days, and in individual weights at 3, 6 and 9 weeks, the responses in the early weights being greater relative to their mean. The results suggest that the correlated weight changes were due to genetic responses in maternal characteristics, probably milk production, rather than individual growth.

Evidence for the rapid direct control both in vivo and in vitro of the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation by 3,5,3'-tri-iodo-L-thyronine in rats

1. Examination of the distribution of L-tri-iodothyronine among rat liver tissue fractions after its intravenous injection into thyroidectomized rats focused attention on mitochondria at very short times after administration. By 15 min this fraction contained 18.5% of the tissue pool; however, the content had decreased sharply by 60 min and even further over the next 3 h. By contrast, the content in all other fractions was constant or increased over 4 h. About 60% of tissue hormone was bound to soluble protein. 2. Mitochondria isolated from thyroidectomized rats showed P/O ratios that were about 50% of those found in normal controls, with both succinate and pyruvate plus malate as substrates. There was no evidence of uncoupling; the respiratory-control ratio was about 6. 3. Mitochondria isolated 15 min after injection of tri-iodothyronine into thyroidectomized rats showed P/O ratios and respiratory-control ratios that were indistinguishable from those obtained in mitochondria from euthyroid animals. The oxidation rate was, however, not restored. 4. Incubation of homogenates of livers taken from thyroidectomized animals injected with L-tri-iodothyronine before isolation of the mitochondria restored the P/O ratio to normal; by contrast, direct addition of hormone to isolated mitochondria had no effect. The role of extramitochondrial factors in rapid tri-iodothyronine action is discussed. 5. Possible mechanisms by which tri-iodothyronine might rapidly alter phosphorylation efficiency are considered: it is concluded that control of adenine nucleotide translocase is unlikely to be involved. 6. The amounts of adenine nucleotides in liver were measured both after thyroidectomy and 15 min after intravenous tri-iodo-thyronine administration to thyroidectomized animals. The concentrations found are consistent with a decreased phosphorylation efficiency in thyroidectomized animals. Tri-iodothyronine injection resulted in very significant changes in the amounts of ATP, ADP and AMP, and in the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio, consonant with those expected from an increased efficiency of ADP phosphorylation. This suggests that the changes seen in isolated mitochondria may indeed reflect a rapid response of liver in vivo to tri-iodo-thyronine.

Thyroxine-induced stimulation of hepatic cell transport of calcium and magnesium

The effect of L-thyroxine on the bidirectional transport of calcium and magnesium in rat liver was assessed in vitro. An increase of 34% in the fractional coefficient for calcium influx was observed 24 hr after the administration of 500 mug of thyroxine. Chronic treatment with thyroxine for 1 and 3 wk at a dose of 750 mug/wk resulted in increases in calcium influx of 57 and 51%, respectively. Calcium efflux was increased irregularly, by 14-26%. Magnesium transport measured in a similar system was not altered by 24 or 48 hr of treatment with thyroxine, but continuation of treatment for 1-3 wk resulted in increases in magnesium influx of 47-49%. Magnesium efflux was not significantly affected. Neither increased cellular binding of divalent cations nor enhanced protein synthesis could be incriminated in the stimulatory effect of thyroxine on divalent cation transport. Actinomycin-D and D,L-ethionine, inhibitors of protein synthesis, stimulated calcium and magnesium transport in liver independently of the effects of thyroxine. These data present the possibility that certain actions of thyroid hormone may be mediated or modulated by associated, direct changes in the cellular transport and intracellular concentrations of divalent cations.

Mechanism of action of thyroid hormones on erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid synthesis

Normal erythrocytes, when incubated with thyroid hormone, were found to have increased levels of 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid. In addition, a partially purified enzyme preparation, when incubated with either a 1,3-diphosphoglyceric acid generating system or 1,3-diphosphoglyceric acid directly, showed increased levels of 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid when exposed to thyroid hormone. The hormonal effect was biphasic and was witnessed after 5 min of incubation. Substitution on the 3 and 5 positions of the basic thyronine molecule was essential for hormonal effect. It appears that thyroid hormone acts by directly stimulating the diphosphoglycerate mutase enzyme. The hormonal effect on 2,3-DPG synthesis may offer a biochemical explanation for the shift in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve observed in thyroid disorders.

Cytochemical localization of endogenous peroxidase in thyroid follicular cells

Endogenous peroxidase activity in rat thyroid follicular cells is demonstrated cytochemically. Following perfusion fixation of the thyroid gland, small blocks of tissue are incubated in a medium containing substrate for peroxidase, before being postfixed in osmium tetroxide, and processed for electron microscopy. Peroxidase activity is found in thyroid follicular cells in the following sites: (a) the perinuclear cisternae, (b) the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum, (c) the inner few lamellae of the Golgi complex, (d) within vesicles, particularly those found apically, and (e) associated with the external surfaces of the microvilli that project apically from the cell into the colloid. In keeping with the radioautographic evidence of others and the postulated role of thyroid peroxidase in iodination, it is suggested that the microvillous apical cell border is the major site where iodination occurs. However, that apical vesicles also play a role in iodination cannot be excluded. The in vitro effect of cyanide, aminotriazole, and thiourea is also discussed.

Thyroid stimulation test with serum thyroxine concentration as index of thyroid response

A thyrotropin (T.S.H.) test is suggested which relies on the change in the concentration of serum thyroxine as the index of thyroid response to T.S.H. stimulation. Ten such tests have been carried out in healthy volunteers and 39 in patients referred for routine thyroid stimulation tests. Among the advantages of such a test are that the patient does not receive ionizing radiation; it is independent of the presence of iodide-or mercury-containing compounds; and it minimizes the number of patient visits. In remote areas the patient need not attend the specialist centre, because the T.S.H. injection can be given and the serum samples taken locally, the samples then being sent to the appropriate laboratory for assay.