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J B Rognoni

Publications and source records attributed to J B Rognoni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Adhesion, actin cytoskeleton organisation and the spreading of colon adenocarcinoma cells induced by EGF are mediated by alpha2beta1 integrin low clustering through focal adhesion kinase.

Both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the extracellular matrix components have been implicated in the pathobiology of adenocarcinomas by somewhat poorly understood mechanisms. We have addressed this problem using an in vitro model comprising the colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29-D4, wherein the role of EGF and type IV collagen on cell adhesion was examined. We demonstrated that the effect of EGF on HT29-D4 cell adhesion was regulated by type IV collagen in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The incorporation of a panel of monoclonal antibodies to integrins alpha1beta1, alpha2beta1 and alpha3beta1 in adhesion medium revealed that EGF-mediated increase in the cell adhesion was mediated essentially by alpha2beta1, and the use of flow cytometry led us to conclude that this EGF effect was mediated by an increase in alpha2beta1 activation and not by an increase in cell surface expression of integrin. An indirect immunofluorescence technique was employed to demonstrate that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and alpha2beta1 integrin were present in focal complexes in large EGF-induced lamellipodia whereas actin cytoskeleton was organised in small tips that colocalised with FAK. This pattern was observed at early time points (15 min) with a strong FAK tyrosine phosphorylation and with an increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase activity (5-15 min) as measured by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. We conclude that at early time points of cell adhesion and spreading, EGF exerted an inside-out regulation of alpha2beta1 integrin in HT29-D4 cells. This regulation seemed to be mediated by EGF-dependent FAK phosphorylation entailing an increase in integrin activation and their recruitment in numerous focal complexes. Furthermore after activation, FAK induced aggregation of actin-associated proteins (paxillin, vinculin and other tyrosine phosphorylated proteins) in focal complexes, leading to organisation of actin cytoskeleton that is involved in lamellipodia formation. Finally, activated alpha2beta1 integrins intervened in all these processes clustered in small focal complexes but not in focal adhesions.

Actins↗

Up-regulation of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin cell-surface expression protects A431 cells from epidermal growth factor-induced apoptosis.

High epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration (10(-8) M) induces inhibition of A431 cell proliferation, resulting in part from an apoptotic process. For some cells escaping this process, proliferation was associated with a decrease in apoptosis. Moreover, these surviving cells displayed marked morphological changes consisting of filopodia formation and cell aggregation. Disrupting cell-cell contacts by lowering extracellular calcium concentration reversed the resistance process, suggesting that apoptosis protection by aggregation may involve intercellular adhesion and cell-cell survival signals probably mediated by calcium-requiring molecules such as integrins. From a panel of integrins tested, only alpha 2 beta 1 integrin cell-surface expression was up-regulated after high apoptotic EGF treatment, and this up-regulation was not observed under a growth-stimulatory EGF concentration (10(-11) M). Double-labeling analysis (alpha 2 beta 1/DNA) implicated alpha 2 beta 1 integrin in the resistance process since 99% of cells that up-regulated alpha 2 beta 1 integrin survived a high dose of EGF. Moreover, the involvement of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin up-regulation in the survival of A431 cells that escape EGF-induced apoptosis was verified using the blocking anti-alpha 2 beta 1 integrin antibody, which was shown to decrease the survival of EGF-stimulated cells. Furthermore, under our culture conditions, alpha 2 beta 1 integrin-dependent cell-cell adhesion can be inhibited without affecting other cell-adhesive interactions, suggesting that alpha 2 beta 1 integrin is involved more directly in cell-cell interaction than in cell-substrate adhesion. Our results provide evidence that EGF-induced up-regulation of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin contributes to the enhancement of cell-cell adhesion, leading to cell aggregate formation, which permits the escape of A431 cells to EGF-induced death by alpha 2 beta 1 integrin signaling.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Outside-in regulation of integrin clustering processes by ECM components per se and their involvement in actin cytoskeleton organization in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line.

We investigated in a colon adenocarcinoma cell line, the exclusive role of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in the absence of soluble factors regarding the integrin clustering processes, and their implication in cell adhesion, spreading and organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Caco-2 cells were shown to express at the plasma membrane 11 integrins, some of which (e.g. alpha3beta1, alpha5beta1, alpha6beta1/beta4, alpha8beta1 and alpha(v)beta1/beta5/beta6) were identified for the first time in this cell line. Cell adhesion and spreading processes were governed essentially by lamellipodium, the regulation of which was shown to be induced by two types of integrin clustering processes mediated by ECM proteins alone. During these phenomena, alpha2beta1, alpha(v)beta6 and alpha6beta1 integrins, the Caco-2 cell specific receptors of type IV collagen, fibronectin and laminin, respectively, were clustered in small focal complexes (point contacts), whereas alpha(v)beta5, the vitronectin receptor in this cell line, was aggregated in focal adhesions. The two levels of integrin clustering induced only F-actin cortical web formation organized in thin radial and/or circular filaments. We conclude thus that ECM components per se through their action on integrin clustering are involved in cell adhesion, cortical actin cytoskeleton organization and cell spreading.

Actins↗

Differentiation of human colon cancer cells changes the expression of beta-tubulin isotypes and MAPs.

The human colon adenocarcinoma HT29-D4 cell line is an interesting model for studies on epithelial cell differentiation. Undifferentiated cells are malignant proliferating cells, whereas differentiated cells act like epithelial polarized cells. In the present study, we first characterized the action of taxoids on the microtubular network of HT29-D4 cells according to the state of differentiation. Microtubular bundles were found in undifferentiated cells but not in differentiated cells, even with 500-fold higher taxoid concentrations for 96 h. This finding led us to study changes in microtubules according to the polarity status of the cell. E-MAP-115 was expressed only in differentiated cells; expression of beta-tubulin isotypes was altered in them relative to undifferentiated cells. Classes I, II, III, IVa and IVb isotypes were expressed in both phenotypes; however, differentiated epithelial cells displayed a specific increase in class III beta-tubulin. Thus, the increase in expression of this beta-tubulin isotype in differentiated cells is not restricted to neuronal cells. Moreover, these expression changes may reflect a higher stability of microtubular network in differentiated cells, which may explain the lower activity of anti-microtubule agents, independently of the mitotic process. These results indicate that the composition of microtubules should be considered as one of the criteria involved in the response of tumour cells to chemotherapy with anti-microtubule agents.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Effect of microtubule disruption on cell adhesion and spreading.

Microtubules have been involved in a variety of cellular processes. In this study, we examined the role of the microtubular system in the adhesion and spreading of the adenocarcinoma cell line HT29-D4. Disruption of microtubules by nocodazole or navelbine resulted in an increase in cell adhesion to purified ECM proteins. This enhanced cell adhesion is mediated by integrins, but is not attributable to quantitative changes in the number of integrin receptors at the cell surface, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. In contrast to attachment, spreading of HT29-D4 cells was reduced by nocodazole treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, microtubule depolymerization appears to increase initial attachment of cells to extracellular matrix, while impeding subsequent cell spreading.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Convergent effects of growth factors, hormones, and fibronectin are necessary for the enterocyte differentiation of a colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT29-D4).

The aim of this work was to show in serum-free medium a convergent effect of physiological factors and extracellular matrix proteins on the differentiation process of enterocytes by taking as a model the HT29-D4 clone that has the feature of differentiating when subcultured in fetal bovine serum glucose-free medium. We show that triiodothyronine (T3) as well as insulin promotes limited cell growth and differentiation, whereas fibronectin or bovine serum albumin (BSA) induces cell growth and a low level of differentiation. However, insulin, T3, fibronectin, and BSA together with epidermal growth factor and transferrin promoted satisfactory growth and enterocyte morphology with epithelial electrophysiological properties in HT29-D4 cells. With these factors adequate protein targeting was achieved since cells apically expressed the carcinoembryonic antigen, and basolaterally transferrin and insulin receptors, beta 1 and alpha v beta 6 integrins, talin, vinculin, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Talin, vinculin, FAK, and alpha v beta 6 integrin, the fibronectin receptor, were clustered in focal contacts, which agrees with a possible role of fibronectin in final cell growth, the latter process mediating the final phase of differentiation. This level of differentiation can be maintained for a long time. Thus HT29-D4 cells appear to be a suitable model to study the implication of integrins in the differentiation process of human enterocytes.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Modification of the response to paclitaxel of human differentiated colon cancer line after long-term treatment at very low dose].

Taxoids (paclitaxel, Taxol and docetaxel, Taxotere), drugs which stabilize microtubules, demonstrate marked activity against ovarian, brain and lung cancer. We investigated, on the human colon adenocarcinoma HT29-D4 cell line, firstly the effects of taxoids in function of the differentiation state and secondly the effects of a low dose of paclitaxel on the differentiation process. The cellular parameters studied were microtubular network, cell cycle and cell tubulin content. Undifferentiated cells treated with paclitaxel or docetaxel (10-100 nM) classically induced bundles in interphasic cells and pseudoasters in mitotic cells, arrest in cell cycle in G2M and increase in tubulin content. Inversely, no modification was observed in differentiated cells after similar taxoid treatment. Long-term low-dose pretreatment of differentiated cells restitutes some sensitivity to taxoids since these cells become responsive to further taxoid treatment, as reflected by modifications of the microtubule network.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Combination of culture on collagen gels and glucose starvation for cloning human colon cancer cells. Obtention of clones exhibiting different patterns of enterocytic differentiation.

Glucose starvation has been widely used to select differentiated subpopulations from the heterogenous human colon cancer cell line HT29. We observed that the important cell loss elicited by culturing these cells in glucose-free medium could be limited when type I collagen gel was used as substratum instead of conventional plastic support. We took advantage of this property to develop a new protocol, which combined glucose starvation and culture on collagen gels, for cloning HT29 cells. Using this procedure we have isolated four clones that were characterized on the basis of morphological (optical and transmission electron microscopy), electrophysiological (determination of transepithelial electrical parameters) and biochemical (detection of villin, sucrase-isomaltase and carcinoembryonic antigen) criteria. These four clones expressed different patterns of enterocytic differentiation regarding to these criteria. These results confirmed the heterogeneity of the HT29 cell line. One of these clones, HT29-A7, which displayed numerous intercellular cysts that disappeared at confluency, appears as a complementary model in the study of epithelial biogenesis.

Cell Differentiation↗

Impaired carcinoembryonic antigen release during the process of suramin-induced differentiation of the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell clone HT29-D4.

The establishment of a differentiated state of the human colic adenocarcinoma cell clone HT29-D4 can be obtained by two ways: 1) the removal of glucose and its replacement by galactose in the culture medium (Fantini et al.: Biology of the Cell 65:163-169, 1989); 2) the addition of suramin, a polyanionic compound, in the glucose-containing medium (Fantini et al.: Journal of Biological Chemistry 264:10282-10286, 1989). We investigated the release of CEA in the culture medium of glucose-deprived HT29-D4 cells (HT29-D4-Gal) and studied its alteration in suramin-treated HT29-D4 cells (HT29-D4-S). The amount of CEA released in the medium in function of time in culture of undifferentiated HT29-D4-Glu cells was very low (5 to 8 ng/10(6) cells/24 hours) and almost constant throughout the experiment whereas it increased sharply during differentiation of HT29-D4-Gal cells (380 ng/10(6) cells/24 hours after 9 days in culture). Surprisingly the amount of CEA released by differentiated HT29-D4-S cells remained very low and comparable with the one of HT29-D4-Glu cells. Moreover suramin, when added to CEA-producing HT29-D4-Gal cells, strongly inhibited its release. Radioiodination of cell surface proteins followed by immunoprecipitation using an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody showed the presence of a 180 kDa polypeptide, i.e., CEA, predominantly labeled in HT29-D4-Gal and -S cells. The total CEA cellular content was higher in HT29-D4-Glu and HT29-D4-S cells than in HT29-D4-Gal cells. When HT29-D4-Gal or -S cells were treated with the bacterial phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (Pl-PLC) a similar level of CEA was released suggesting a similar type of CEA anchorage. The present data demonstrate that a decrease in CEA release (i.e., in HT29-D4-Glu and -S cells) corresponds to an increase in its overall cellular expression. These results are in favour of a regulatory mechanism, impaired by suramin, which determines the balance between the soluble and the membrane bound forms of CEA.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Suramin-treated HT29-D4 cells grown in the presence of glucose in permeable culture chambers form electrically active epithelial monolayers. A comparative study with HT29-D4 cells grown in the absence of glucose.

The clonal cell line HT29-D4 is able to differentiate by two different ways: i) by replacing glucose by galactose in the culture medium; ii) by addition of suramin (a drug known to interfere with the growth promoting activity of growth factors) in the medium. In both cases the transition in the organization of the cell monolayer occurred without cell loss. The two ways (i.e., glucose starvation or suramin addition) lead to polarized cells which generate electrically active cell monolayers (Fantini et al., Biol. Cell 65, 163-169 (1989) and this paper). Yet several important differences can be observed at the morphological or at the electrophysiological levels. 1) The suramin-treated cells (HT29-D4-S cells) organized into monolayers of high (40-50 microns) columnar cells while glucose-starved cells (HT29-D4-Gal cells) were rather cuboidal (20-25 microns). 2) HT29-D4-S cells were highly polarized; the nucleus was rejected at the basal side of the cell and lysosomes in the upper part of the cytoplasm. Numerous lipid-like droplets surrounded with glycogen were observed underneath the nucleus. HT29-D4-Gal cells never presented such a degree of organization. 3) The transepithelial resistance and the potential difference of HT29-D4-S monolayers reached values significantly higher than those for HT29-D4-Gal monolayers, reflecting a higher degree of organization. Specific proteins such as sucrase-isomaltase, alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen were localized exclusively on the apical membrane while human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules were restricted to the basolateral membrane for both HT29-D4-S and HT29-D4-Gal cells. The present data demonstrate that the same cells can generate a different degree of cellular organization according to the experimental conditions of cell growth, the most elaborate state of differentiation being obtained in the presence of suramin.

Cell Division↗

Suramin inhibits cell growth and glycolytic activity and triggers differentiation of human colic adenocarcinoma cell clone HT29-D4.

Suramin, a drug used in the treatment of trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis inhibits growth factor-induced mitogenesis. In the present report, we show that suramin inhibits the growth of human colic adenocarcinoma cells HT29-D4 and rapidly induces their differentiation into enterocyte-like cells. As soon as 6 days after the addition of suramin (100 micrograms/ml) in the culture medium, the cells form a polarized monolayer of regular columnar cells with occluding junctions delimiting two distinct membrane domains (apical and basolateral) and an apical brush-border expressing alkaline phosphatase and sucrase-isomaltase. The process of differentiation is fully reversible when the drug is removed from the culture medium. We also show that suramin inhibits both glucose consumption and lactate production so that the glycolytic activity of the treated cells is lowered by 42%. This observation would shed some light on the complex mechanisms involved during the induction of HT29 cell differentiation when glucose is removed from the culture medium.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Induction of polarized apical expression and vectorial release of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) during the process of differentiation of HT29-D4 cells.

HT29-D4 clonal cells can be induced to differentiate by a simple alteration of the culture medium, that is, by the replacement of glucose by galactose [Fantini, J., et al. (1986) J. Cell Sci., 83:235-249] as reported for the nonclonal HT29 cells [Pinto, M., (1982) Biol. Cell, 44:193-196]. An essential property of the HT29-D4 cell line is the fact that no cell loss occurs after the medium change, so that the differentiated cells can be considered as the true counterpart of the undifferentiated one. This model is particularly suitable to study morphological and biochemical events associated with the progressive establishment of the differentiation state. We report here that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a 180 kDa glycoprotein originally described as a colon tumor associated antigen, is faintly expressed at the surface of undifferentiated HT29-D4 cells. These cells release a small amount of CEA (2.5 ng/10(6) cells/24 hr) in the culture medium. Fourty-eight hours after glucose substitution by galactose, both CEA cell surface expression and release are strongly enhanced as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation studies. Ten days after the medium change, the amount of CEA released reaches a maximum value of 130 ng/10(6) cells/24 hr, which remains stable for differentiated HT29-D4 cells cultured in glucose-free, galactose-containing medium (Gal-medium) for several months. HT29-D4 cells grown in Gal-medium in porous-bottom culture dishes generate leakproof epithelial monolayers. We have successfully performed an independent radioiodination of the apical and basolateral domains of these cells, followed by immunoprecipitation. We demonstrate that CEA is expressed exclusively at the apical surface of differentiated HT29-D4 cells, since the 180 kDa polypeptide was immunoprecipitated only when the radioiodination was performed at the apical side of the monolayer. Leakproof HT29-D4 monolayers cultured in permeable chambers were also used to demonstrate that CEA was exclusively released in the medium bathing the apical side of the cells. In conclusion, this study of cell surface CEA expression and CEA release during the process of differentiation of HT29-D4 cells demonstrated that 1) CEA cell surface expression and CEA release are correlated with cell differentiation; 2) CEA is expressed in the apical brush border membrane of differentiated HT29-D4 cells; and 3) CEA release is exclusively oriented toward the apical side of the polarized monolayer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Down regulation of hypertrophied follicular cell volume in thyroid hyperplastic gland.

In the present study, changes in thyroid follicular cell volume and its regulation have been investigated during the early involution of a hyperplastic goitre. Male Wistar rats were administered an iodine deficient diet for 6 months with propylthiouracil (PTU, 0.15%) during the last two months. At the end of iodine deficiency (day 0), some rats were killed and the others received a normal iodine diet. These rats were killed after different periods of iodine refeeding. Thyroid follicular cell volume was very high in hyperplastic gland whereas thyroid protein concentration was low. Thyroid follicular cell volume quickly decreased when rats were normally iodine refed, whereas thyroid protein concentration increased. Electron microscopal observations showed that thyroid follicular cells retained their endocrine aspect in hyperplastic state and throughout the iodine refeeding period. Using concomitant stereological and biochemical techniques, it is shown that the amount of cellular iodide and an unknown iodinated compound strongly increased during the early iodine refeeding. Plasma TSH was high on day 0 and remained at this level until day 8 whereas plasma T3 and T4 were low on day 0 and remained at this low level until day 4. The present data show that the involution of thyroid follicular cell volume is induced by iodide and mediated by an iodinated compound at least in the initial phase, and is independent of plasma TSH, T3, T4, so indicating the involvement of a thyroid autoregulatory mechanism. These changes in cell volume may be of importance in ion transport, i.e. in the metabolism of thyroid follicular cell during the early involution of the hyperplastic goitre.

Animals↗

Monoiodotyrosine formation during thyroglobulin processing in Golgi vesicles.

A golgi-enriched subfraction was obtained from porcine thyroid glands by differential centrifugation. When incubated in a suitable medium, these vesicles were able to concentrate iodide from the medium and bind it to protein. The iodination process was inhibited by methylmercapto-imidazole and was increased by the addition of an H2O2 generating system to the medium. Analysis of the protein content of the vesicles revealed the presence of 18 and 12-13 S thyroglobulin molecules, lacking mannose residues, and containing only monoiodotyrosine. It is concluded that in vitro, iodination can begin before exocytosis, in the smooth-surfaced vesicles derived from the golgi apparatus, as soon as N-acetylglucosamine is incorporated onto the pre-thyroglobulin molecule.

Animals↗

Involution of hyperplastic goitre in the adult male rat. Tissue compartment process with early iodide effect: a stereological and biochemical study.

The morphological and functional changes during involution of hyperplastic goitre have been investigated in the adult male rat. Male wistar rats received an iodine-deficient diet for 6 months and during the last 2 months received propylthiouracil (PTU, 0.15%). By the end of this treatment (day 0), a hyperplastic goitre was obtained. A normal iodine supply was then given and PTU withdrawn. During the first 8 days of iodine refeeding, the plasma thyrotropin (TSH) remained at a high level (ten times the control value), whereas the thyroid iodide content was low on day 0, markedly increased on day 1 and decreased on day 4. Plasma T3 and T4 levels remained unchanged for 4 days and only increased on day 8. The total thyroid protein concentration was low on day 0 and then increased rapidly on day 8 (by 34%). The volume density of colloid remained low and unchanged until day 8, when it started to increase. However, the thyroid epithelial cell volume and the volume density of capillaries were raised on day 0, decreased rapidly in the next 8 days and more slowly later on. The total number of thyroid epithelial cells was considerably raised in the hyperplastic gland. It did not vary until day 16, when it decreased slowly, reaching a plateau on day 45 above the control value. The present data show that involution of hyperplastic goitre in the rat is due essentially to a decrease in thyroid epithelial cell volume and to a reduction of the increased number of capillary blood vessels present. The decrease in the number of epithelial cells is only 16.5%, suggesting that the death of thyroid epithelial cells contributes little. Half the process of involution, which occurs from days 0 to 8, is controlled by the thyroid iodide concentration rather than TSH, indicating the involvement of a thyroid autoregulatory mechanism. It must be emphasized, however, that the discontinuous pattern of epithelial cell number during involution may indicate that some cells with larger nuclei and more rapid turnover disappear more quickly after iodine refeeding.

Animals↗

Thyroid autoregulation: impact on thyroid structure and function in rats.

Global response of the thyroid to a 10-fold increase in plasma iodide concentration results only in modifications of basolateral transfer for iodide where, by a balance phenomenon between influx and efflux, a net thyroid intake of 1.2 micrograms I/day is constantly maintained. The other main steps of thyroid iodine metabolism, thyroglobulin (Tg) iodination, endocytosis, and hydrolysis, remain constant. A stationary hormone secretion delivery results. This constant state is not found at a cellular level, where structural changes are observed in correlation with functional regulation of the cell dynamic state. Thus, an increase in plasma iodide concentration results in an increase of the apical membrane area (40%), whereas the basolateral membrane area decreases (18%). The volume of the follicle lumen increases (76%). Nevertheless, neither epithelial cell volume nor the structure of microvilli are modified. Comparison of iodine fluxes through the apical and basolateral membrane of the epithelial cell shows that an increase in plasma iodide concentration is correlated to a decrease of the Tg iodination and endocytotic fluxes (45%). A regulation also appears for basolateral transfer of iodide, whereas the lysosome system does not modulate the hormone secretion mechanism.

Animals↗

The modulation by 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) of pituitary T3 nuclear receptors in hypothyroid rats is inhibited by cycloheximide.

The density of T3 nuclear receptors is known to vary with tissues and physiopathological conditions, but the factors involved in their regulation are still unknown. We have previously shown in the anterior pituitary gland that T3 modulates its own receptors; the density of T3 receptors in hypothyroid rats is half that in normal rats, and one injection of T3 is able to restore normal density of T3 receptors within 1-3 h. To determine whether T3 has a direct action on the synthesis of its nuclear receptor, the effect of cycloheximide (Cy) on T3-induced nuclear receptor was studied. In addition, the relationship between the density of pituitary T3 receptors and the secretion of TSH in different thyroid states was examined. In normal rats one injection of Cy (0.5-8 mg/100 mg BW) induced within 3 h a dose-dependent reduction in the density of pituitary T3 receptors as well as an important decrease in plasma TSH, with no changes in T4, T3, or pituitary TSH content. In hypothyroid rats the 50% decrease in the density of pituitary T3 receptors was not further reduced by 1 mg Cy. However, when the same dose of Cy was given 30 min before T3 it completely inhibited the induction by T3 of its receptors. When Cy was given 30 min or 1 h after T3 the inhibition was only partial. An inverse correlation was found between the density of T3 receptors in the pituitary gland and plasma TSH (r = -0.8128) in all experimental groups except those treated with Cy; this drug had an inhibitory effect on both TSH secretion and the density of receptors. The present data, therefore, support the view that T3 in the pituitary gland may induce the synthesis of its own nuclear receptors and that the density of T3 receptors is also involved in the control of TSH secretion.

Animals↗

Cell kinetics of thyroid epithelial cells during hyperplastic goitre involution.

Thyroid epithelial cell kinetics were investigated in rats when a normal iodine diet was re-established after a long period of iodine deficiency supplemented with propylthiouracil (0.15%) for the last 2 months. In the first (prelabelling) experiment, all rats were labelled with a single injection of [3H]thymidine 2 days before iodine refeeding in order to follow the fate of the prelabelled cells. In the second experiment, the pulse-labelling index at the time of killing was measured; for this purpose the rats received [3H]thymidine 1 h before death. In these two experiments autoradiography was performed on histological sections. Thyroids were excised on day 0 and then at various intervals up to day 73 of iodine refeeding. Plasma tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were very low until day 4 and then increased to reach control values on day 30. Thyroid concentration of iodide rose to 20 times the value on day 0, remained at this high level until day 2, and then diminished on day 4 to reach the control value on day 16. Plasma TSH concentrations were very high in iodine-deficient rats and did not vary significantly until day 8, when they fell rapidly to reach the control value on day 30. Thyroid weight, raised on day 0, decreased relatively quickly until day 4, then more slowly until day 30. Total thyroid epithelial cell number, high on day 0 (30.7 x 10(6) cells) was constant until day 16, then decreased until day 30 at which time a plateau was reached.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗