Increase of thyrotropin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and TRH release in rats during pregnancy

Regulation of thyrotropin (TSH) release by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in the anterior pituitary gland (AP) of pregnant rats was studied. The pregnant (day 7, 14, and 21) and diestrous rats were decapitated. AP was divided into 2 halves, and then incubated with Locke's solution at 37 degrees C for 30 min following a preincubation. After replacing with media, APs were incubated with Locke's solution containing 0, or 10 nM TRH for 30 min. Both basal and TRH-stimulated media were collected at the end of incubation. Medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) was incubated with Locke's medium at 37 degrees C for 30 min. Concentrations of TSH in medium and plasma samples as well as the cyclic 3':5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content in APs and the levels of TRH in MBH medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The levels of plasma TSH were higher in pregnant rats of day 21 than in diestrous rats. The spontaneous release of TSH in vitro was unaltered by pregnancy. TRH increased the release of TSH by AP, which was higher in pregnant than in diestrous rats. Maternal serum concentration of total T3 was decreased during the pregnancy. The basal release of hypothalamic TRH in vitro was greater in late pregnant rats than in diestrous rats. After TRH stimulation, the increase of the content of pituitary cAMP was greater in late pregnant rats than in diestrus animals. These results suggest that the greater secretion of TSH in pregnant rats is in part due to an increase of spontaneous release of TRH by MBH and a decrease of plasma thyroid hormones. Moreover, the higher level of plasma TSH in rats during late pregnancy is associated with the greater response of pituitary cAMP and TSH to TRH.     

Changes in the cyclic nucleotides of rat thyroid, pituitary and plasma caused by methylthiouracil treatment.

Changes in the content of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) and related enzyme activities were observed in the rat thyroid, pituitary and plasma during the prolonged increase of endogenous TSH produced by treatment with methylthiouracil (MTU). Experiments were performed after 4 weeks treatment with MTU. The wet weight and cAMP content per wet weight of the thyroid increased 3 and 1.4 times respectively, but cGMP showed a slight decrease. Pituitary weight increased 1.3 times, but cAMP and cGMP content did not change. The cAMP level in plasma also increased about 1.3 times, but cGMP did not increase. The cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity in the thyroid, pituitary and plasma was increased 1.9, 1.4 and 1.3 times respectively after MTU treatment, while cGMP-phosphodiesterase showed no significant change. ATPase activity in the thyroid and pituitary was also increased more than 1.5 times after MTU treatment, while 5'-nucleotidase activitity decreased remarkably. These data indicate that the metabolism of the cyclic nucleotide system in the thyroid is stimulated by TSH.     

Differential utilization of cyclin D1 and cyclin D3 in the distinct mitogenic stimulations by growth factors and TSH of human thyrocytes in primary culture

Two distinct mitogenic modes coexist in thyroid epithelial cells. TSH via cAMP induces proliferation and differentiation expression, whereas growth factors including epidermal growth factor (EGF) induce proliferation and dedifferentiation. Divergent models of TSH/cAMP-dependent mitogenesis have emerged from different thyroid cell culture systems. In the FRTL-5 rat cell line, cAMP cross-signals with transduction pathways of growth factors to induce cyclin D1 and p21(cip1) and down-regulate p27(kip1). By contrast, in canine primary cultures, mitogenic pathways of cAMP and growth factors are fully distinct. cAMP does not induce D-type cyclins and p21, it up-regulates p27, and it stimulates the formation and activity of cyclin D3-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 complexes. In primary cultures of normal human thyrocytes, EGF + serum increased cyclin D1 and p21 accumulation, and it stimulated the assembly and activity of cyclin D1-CDK4-p21 complexes. By contrast, TSH repressed or did not induce cyclin D1 and p21, and it rather up-regulated p27. TSH did not increase cyclin D1-CDK4 activity, but it stimulated the activating phosphorylation of CDK4 and the pRb-kinase activity of preexisting cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes. As recently demonstrated in dog thyrocytes and other systems, cyclin D1 and cyclin D3 differently oriented the site specificity of CDK4 pRb-kinase activity, which might differently impact some pRb functions. Cyclin D1 or cyclin D3 are thus differentially used in the distinct mitogenic stimulations by growth factors or TSH, and potentially in hyperproliferative diseases generated by the overactivation of their respective signaling pathways. At variance with dog thyroid primary cultures, rat thyroid cell lines might not be valid models of TSH-dependent mitogenesis of human thyrocytes.     

Chronic effect of TSH on human thyroid tissue in organ culture

The chronic effect of TSH on thyroidal cAMP concentrations and release of thyroid hormones was investigated using human thyroid tissue in organ culture. Normal human thyroid slices were placed in HAM's F-10 synthetic culture medium in Falcon organ tissue culture dishes, and incubated at 37 degrees in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. Medium was changed everyday and daily T3 or T4 release was determined using concentration of T3 or T4 in the medium. After incubation, slices were transferred to the medium containing 10 mM theophylline and incubated without TSH for an additional 30 min to determine thyroidal cAMP concentrations. Thyroidal cAMP concentrations in slices incubated with 10 mU/ml of TSH increased significantly at 2, 6, and 24 hr and even on the 6th day of incubation. Daily T3 release was significantly increased above control from the 3rd day and daily T4 release from the 4th day to the 11th day of incubation with 10 mU/ml of TSH. Histologically, almost all follicles were structurally maintained even on the 11th day of incubation. These results suggest that both thyroidal cAMP concentrations and release of thyroid hormones are stimulated chronically by TSH. This organ culture system is useful for investigating chronic effects of various materials on human thyroid tissue.     

Thyroid peroxidase: rat cDNA sequence, chromosomal localization in mouse, and regulation of gene expression by comparison to thyroglobulin in rat FRTL-5 cells

A rat thyroid peroxidase cDNA has been isolated from a FRTL-5 thyroid cell library and sequenced. The cDNA is 2776 base pairs long with an open reading frame of 770 amino acids. By comparison to full-length human thyroid peroxidase cDNA and based on its identification of a 3.2 kilobase mRNA in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cell Northern blots, the rat peroxidase cDNA appears to lack 400-500 base pairs at the 5'-end of the mRNA. It exhibits only a 74% nucleotide and 77% amino acid sequence similarity to human thyroid peroxidase cDNA within the total aligned sequences, although the predicted active site regions are highly conserved (greater than 90-100%). The cDNA has been used to map the thyroid peroxidase gene in mice to chromosome 12 and to compare thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin gene expression in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells. Despite the fact TSH action in both cases is duplicated, and presumably mediated, by cAMP, TSH-induced increases in thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin mRNA levels differ. Differences exist with respect to hormone concentration and time. The ability of TSH to increase thyroglobulin, but not thyroid peroxidase mRNA levels, requires insulin, 5% serum, or insulin-like growth factor-I. Insulin or insulin-like growth factor-I alone can increase thyroglobulin mRNA levels as well as or better than TSH but have only a small effect on thyroid peroxidase mRNA levels by comparison to TSH. The ability of TSH to increase thyroglobulin gene expression is readily detected in nuclear run-on assays but not the ability of TSH to increase thyroid peroxidase gene expression. Cycloheximide inhibits TSH-increased thyroglobulin but not peroxidase mRNA levels. Finally, methimazole and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate show different effects on TSH-induced increases in thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase mRNA levels.     

Prevention by nicotinamide of desensitization to thyrotropin stimulation in cultured human thyroid cells

The presence of 50 mM nicotinamide together with 100 milliunits/ml of TSH in the incubation medium prevented the decline in human thyroid cell cAMP from maximum, stimulated levels (15-30 min) that occurs when the cells are exposed to TSH alone. Nicotinamide in the absence of TSH did not increase thyroid cell cAMP content. TSH desensitization, and its prevention by nicotinamide, occurred in the presence or absence of 3-isobutyl-methylxanthine. 1-Methyl nicotinamide and N'-methyl nicotinamide similarly prevented TSH desensitization. Recovery from TSH desensitization was prolonged and incomplete after 72 h. The presence of 50 mM nicotinamide hastened recovery from desensitization. Desensitization of the cAMP response to 10(6) M prostaglandin E1 and 1 mM adenosine was unaffected by nicotinamide. Other inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity, 5-bromouridine, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, and thymidine (all at 50 mM) completely or partially prevented TSH desensitization. Pyridoxine (50 mM) similarly prevented this phenomenon. As with dog thyroid cells, 10(-4) M cycloheximide blocked TSH desensitization. The combination of 10(-4) M cycloheximide and 50 mM nicotinamide had a synergistic effect in augmenting the thyroid cell cAMP response to TSH stimulation.     

Effects of forskolin on adenylate cyclase,cyclic AMP,protein kinase and intermediary metabolism of the thyroid gland

Forskolin (40 μM) stimulated adenylate cyclase activities of bovine thyroid plasma membranes without pthe addition of guanine nucleotides. GDP had little effect on the forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity while Gpp[NH]p (0.1–1.0 μM) decreased it. In the presence of TSH (10 mU/0.11), Gpp[NH]p no longer caused inhibition. Forskolin did not affect phosphodiesterase activities of thyroid homogenates. Forskolin (10 μM) rapidly increased cAMP levels in bovine thyroid slices both in the absence and presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The effect of TSH (50 mU/ml) on cAMP levels was additive or greater than additive to that of forskolin. An initial 2-h incubation of slices with forskolin did not decrease their subsequent cAMP responses to either forskolin and/or TSH while similar treatment of slices with TSH induced desensitization of the cAMP response to TSH, but not to forskolin. Forskolin (10 μM) as well as TSH (50 mU/ml) activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase of slices in the absence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Although forskolin activated the adenylate cyclase cAMP system, it did not stimulate iodide organification or glucose oxidation, effects which have been attributed to cAMP. In fact, forskolin inhibited these parameters and ³²P incorporation into phospholipids as well as their stimulation by TSH. These results indicate that an increase in cAMP levels and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in thyroid slices may not necessarily reproduce the effects of TSH on the thyroid.     

Release of cyclic AMP from the chicken thyroid stimulated with TSH in vitro.

The thyroid lobes excised from one-day-old or 13-day-old chickens were incubated with or without TSH, and cAMP in the medium was determined. TSH induced the release of cAMP from thyroid lobes, resulting in the increase of cAMP concentration in the incubating medium. The release of cAMP into the incubating media in the presence of TSH from the thyroids of the chickens which were pretreated with TSH neonatally was more marked as compared to that from the thyroids of the control chickens. The light and electron microscopic examination of the thyroid lobes incubated with TSH showed that the morphological changes such as colloid droplets formation and enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum were induced.     

Thyrotropin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP increase levels of c-myc and c-fos mRNAs in cultured rat thyroid cells

We have studied the effects of thyrotropin (TSH) on the growth and on the levels of the mRNAs of the cellular proto-oncogenes, c-myc, and c-fos, in the specific target of TSH action, the thyroid follicular cell. FRTL5 cells, a cloned line from normal rat thyroid gland that depends upon TSH for its replication, were maintained in a quiescent state for 5 days by keeping them in a medium devoid of serum or TSH. The addition of bovine TSH (bTSH, 1 nM) increased DNA synthesis and stimulated cell proliferation after a lag period of 24 h. This growth response was anteceded by prompt, but transient, increases in the levels of c-myc and c-fos mRNAs, with peak responses at 60 and 30 min, respectively. The minimally and maximally effective concentrations of bTSH were 0.01 mM and 1.0 nM, respectively. Dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) stimulated cell growth and increased the level of c-myc mRNA in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximum effects at a Bt2cAMP concentration of 1 mM. At the single concentration tested (1 mM), Bt2cAMP also increased the level of c-fos mRNA. Hence, bTSH-stimulated mitogenesis in quiescent FRTL5 cells is associated with rapid, but short-lived, increases in the levels of the mRNAs of the proto-oncogenes, c-myc and c-fos. Since bTSH is known to stimulate adenylate cyclase in these cells, and since the effect of TSH on c-myc and c-fos mRNAs is mimicked by Bt2cAMP, it is possible that these responses to bTSH are mediated, at least in part, by cAMP.     

Pituitary-thyroid function of fetuses of hypothyroid and growth hormone treated hypothyroid rats.

Maternal hypothyroidism induced by surgical thyroidectomy (Tx) of the rat resulted in significantly higher fetal serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) on day 22 of gestation. Surprisingly, administration of growth hormone (GH) to hypothyroid mothers increased further the fetal serum T4 and TSH. The in vitro uptake of 131I-T4 by erythrocytes was elevated significantly when incubated with serum from fetuses of both hypothyroid and hypothyroid GH-treated mothers. Although the plasma protein levels of hypothyroid mothers and their fetuses are decreased significantly as compared to controls this is not true of hypothyroid GH-treated mothers and their fetuses. The T4 levels of both groups of Tx mothers were significantly below that of controls. However, as in the case of their fetuses, the serum T4 of GH-treated hypothyroid mothers was elevated from that of Tx only animals. It is concluded that the pituitary-thyroid system of fetuses of hypothyroid mothers is activated excessively during late gestation, that considerable T4 can be transported from the fetus to the mother during this period and that these fetuses are in fact born in a hyperthyroid state which is aggravated by maternal treatment with GH.     

Biological effect of anti-fucosyl GM1 ganglioside antibody on cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production in FRTL5 rat thyroid cells

Addition of specific anti-fucosyl GM1 antibody raised in a rabbit caused dose-dependent inhibition of endogenous and thyrotropin (TSH)- or thyroid stimulating antibody-stimulated cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production in cultured FRTL5 rat thyroid cells. Further, the antibody inhibited the cAMP increase induced by prostaglandin E1 and forskolin. However, anti-fucosyl GM1 antibody did not affect the binding of [125I]bovine TSH to solubilized porcine thyroid TSH receptor or to FRTL5 cells. In conclusion, fucosyl GM1 is one of the specific membrane components of thyrocytes and appears to be involved in adenylate cyclase stimulation or cAMP generation. Further, the biological effects of the ganglioside do not seem to be mediated by the TSH receptor, suggesting a post receptor mechanism.     

Increases in cytosolic Ca++ down regulate thyrotropin receptor gene expression by a mechanism different from the cAMP signal.

Thyrotropin (TSH) receptor mRNA levels in rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells are decreased by treatment with the calcium ionophores, A23187 or ionomycin, as well as with TSH, cholera toxin, forskolin, and 8-bromo-cAMP. Down regulation is, in each case, associated with a decrease in [125I]TSH binding and a decreased ability of TSH to increase cAMP levels. The ionophore does not alter cAMP levels and ethylene glycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether) N, N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) in the medium prevents down regulation of TSH receptor mRNA levels by the ionophore, but not by TSH; the EGTA action is reversed by the simultaneous addition of Ca++. Whereas down regulation by TSH and its cAMP signal requires the presence of insulin and/or serum in the medium; down regulation by a calcium ionophore is still evident in their absence. Down regulation of TSH receptor mRNA levels and receptor desensitization by TSH/cAMP or an ionophore is lost in cells transfected with a full length TSH receptor cDNA devoid of regulatory elements, but able to reconstitute TSH receptor signal generation.     

Forskolin stimulates cAMP production and the onset of the functional differentiation in the fetal rat thyroid in vitro

Forskolin, a diterpen stimulating the adenylcyclase induces in vitro an accumulation of cAMP in thyroid glands explanted from 17 day-old rat fetuses. Thyroid glands from 15 day-old fetuses exposed to forskolin exhibit, within 24 hr, an active folliculogenesis and 125I fixation in follicular cavities. The results indicate that cAMP probably activates the onset of both morphological and physiological maturation in the fetal rat thyroid.     

Thyroid follicular morphogenesis mechanism: organ culture of the fetal gland as an experimental approach

The morphological and physiological changes induced by organ culture and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation in the rat fetal thyroid gland were studied. Organ culture increased Golgi activity which was further enhanced by TSH, subsequently facilitating the formation of intracellular lumina. TSH also raised the intracellular cAMP level. The intracellular lumina observed during follicular morphogenesis are structurally comparable to typical intracellular cavities formed in adult thyroid cells, which are considered as being the result of increased Golgi activity. The intracellular lumen, therefore, is probably not a physiologically significant step in thyroid morphogenesis.     

Effects of thyrotrophin stimulation for two hours on mouse thyroid cyclic AMP levels in vivo and in vitro

A thyrotrophin (TSH) stimulation in vivo in mice for 2 h, reflected by continuously increasing plasma triiodothyronine (T3) levels, was associated with an increase in the thyroid content of cyclic AMP (cAMP) during the first 25 min of stimulation; thereafter the level rapidly declined. A similar pattern of the cAMP response was found when mouse thyroid tissue was stimulated by TSH in vitro for 2 h. This is an in vivo demonstration of a type of cAMP response to prolonged hormonal stimulation that has been observed in several in vitro systems including thyroid tissue, generally referred to as hormone induced desensitization of adenyl cyclase. The present results indicate that the phenomenon is not confined to in vitro conditions but can be demonstrated also in vivo, and support the representativeness of in vitro experiments in this respect.     

Cyclic AMP as the second hormonal messenger in the in vitro folliculogenesis of the foetal thyroid gland of the rat

Thyroid-stimulating hormone, the catecholamine isoproterenol, and prostaglandins E1 and E2, all substances known to increase cAMP concentration in thyroid tissue, accelerate the formation of follicular cavities in explanted thyroid of 15-day-old rat foetuses. Dibutyryl-cAMP added to the medium, but not sodium fluoride, also stimulates the folliculogenesis. Since fluoride stimulates membrane adenylate cyclase but does not increase the intracellular cAMP level, these results show that cAMP is involved as a second messenger in the activation of foetal thyroid morphogenesis induced by hormones. They indicate also that the thyroid gland of the foetal rat is capable of responding to hormonal stimulation as early as the 15th day of pregnancy; this implies that on day 15, the foetal thyroid possesses receptors not only for the thyroid-stimulating hormone, but also for catecholamines and prostaglandins.     

Relation of structural polarity to responses of cyclic 3', 5'-adenosine monophosphate accumulation and thyroid hormone release in cultured human thyroid follicles

The relationship of structural polarity to functional activities was examined in cultured human thyroid follicles, which were isolated from the thyroid gland of patients with Graves' disease by collagenase treatment. Structural polarity was examined morphologically by electron microscopy, while the functional response to bovine TSH was examined by measuring intracellular cAMP accumulation and T3 release. In freshly isolated thyroid follicles, structural polarity was normal and TSH induced significant cAMP accumulation but no significant release of T3. After culture for 5 days the structural polarity of thyroid follicles became inverted in the absence of thyroid stimulators, but normal polarity was retained in the presence of TSH or dibutyryl cAMP [Bu)2 cAMP). The response to TSH of cAMP accumulation increased markedly after culture in either the presence or absence of TSH, suggesting that cAMP accumulation in response to TSH is not related to structural polarity. In contrast, thyroid follicles cultured without thyroid stimulators showed no significant T3 release in response to TSH, whereas those cultured with TSH or (Bu)2 cAMP showed significant T3 release in response to TSH. These data indicate that in cultured human thyroid follicles, the responses to TSH of cAMP accumulation and T3 release are not always correlated. Among many other explanations, the results were at least compatible with the idea that normal structural polarity is necessary for thyroid hormone release in response to TSH.     

Effects of thyroidectomy and administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) or thyrotropin (TSH) to pregnant rats on the functional development of the fetal thyroid gland an immunohistochemical study

In order to elucidate the maternal factors influencing the functional development of the fetal rat thyroid gland, pregnant rats were subjected to either thyroidectomy or administration of PTU or TSH and the thyroid glands of the fetuses were examined chronologically by immunohistochemistry to detect thyroglobulin (Tg), T4 and T3. In the group undergoing thyroidectomy, the occurrence of immunoreactive Tg, T4 and T3 was the same as in the control group in spite of slight retardation of the development of the thyroid gland. On the other hand, PTU administration caused remarkable degeneration of the hyperplastic epithelium of the follicles, where immunoreactivity of T4 and T3 was barely detectable, suggesting a transplacental effect of PTU on the fetal thyroid gland. However, Tg remained unaffected and was stained as well as in the controls. Injection of TSH led to a delay in the occurrence of T4 and T3 by one day, probably due to increased levels of thyroid hormone from the stimulated thyroid gland of the mother rats.