Hormone-induced modifications of free tyrosine in the rat thyroid gland

J Physiol. 1969 Jul;203(1):1-12. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008845.

Abstract

The concentrations of free tyrosine in liver, muscle, kidney and thyroid gland were determined in separate groups of rats maintained on a low iodine diet and treated with intraperitoneal injections of thyroxine (T 4), thyrotrophin (TSH) and TSH plus propylthiouracil (PTU). Groups of hypophysectomized rats also were given T 4. Significant changes in tissue tyrosine were generally confined to the thyroid gland. Animals treated with T 4 showed a decrease of mean thyroid tyrosine from 113.3 +/- 17.9 (S.D.) mug/g wet weight of gland to 76.2 +/- 5.7 mug/g (P < 0.01). Although there was little change in content when TSH was given alone, a significant increase in tyrosine levels was observed when TSH plus PTU were administered (P < 0.01). In hypophysectomized rats thyroid tyrosine decreased and was further lowered (to 46.0 +/- 3.1 mug/g; P < 0.05) by T 4 treatment. When tyrosine concentrations were expressed in relation to ribonucleic acid (RNA) or protein content of the assayed gland, all differences in tyrosine content became greater.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Hypophysectomy
  • Iodine Isotopes
  • Organ Size
  • Pituitary Irradiation
  • Propylthiouracil / pharmacology*
  • RNA / analysis
  • Rats
  • Thyroid Gland / analysis*
  • Thyroid Gland / anatomy & histology
  • Thyroid Gland / drug effects
  • Thyrotropin / pharmacology*
  • Thyroxine / pharmacology*
  • Tyrosine / analysis*
  • Tyrosine / metabolism

Substances

  • Iodine Isotopes
  • Tyrosine
  • RNA
  • Propylthiouracil
  • Thyrotropin
  • Thyroxine