Electronic Library of Scientific Literature



ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS



Volume 34 / No. 2 / 2000


 


ANTI-GOITROUS EFFECT OF LECITHIN-BOUND IODINE IN PROPYLTHIOURACIL TREATED RATS

S. Matsuzaki, Hong-Tao Ma, R.B. Burikhanov

Department of Biochemistry, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293;
Institute of Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371, Japan
E-mail: matuzaki@dokkyomed.ac.jp

Objective. Excess iodine and some iodine-containing compounds are known to affect various paramaters of thyroid function. Lecithin-bound iodine (LBI) is a compound which induces involution of an enlarged thyroid. LBI was tested for its ability to affect thyroid ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and apoptosis.
Methods. LBI was given orally to propylthiouracil-pretreated rats and the changes in ODC activity and apoptosis were observed. The thyroid apoptosis was detected by DNA laddering and flow cytometry.
Results. LBI suppressed the thyroid ODC activity within one hour after its administration and lowered slightly but significantly the thyroid putrescine levels at 3 h. The DNA cleavage ladder was evident at 3-6 h after LBI treatment. Propylthiouracil induced thyroid enlargement was reduced significantly at 3 days after chronic treatment with LBI. The thyroidal content of putrescine was also decreased after chronic treatment. These effects of LBI were essentially the same as those of excess iodide, while other iodinated compounds including amiodarone, iopanoic acid and erythrosine had no effect on the thyroid ODC activity.
Conclusions. These results suggest that LBI may exert its anti-goitrous effects, consisting of the inhibition of ODC activity and apoptosis, in the form of inorganic iodide in vivo.
Key words: Lecithin bound iodine - Ornithine decarboxylase - Propylthiouracil - Anti-goitrous effect - Apoptosis

ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, Vol. 34, 57 - 63, 2000

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PCR BASED DIAGNOSIS OF 21-HYDROXYLASE GENE DEFECTS IN SLOVAK PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA

L. Pinterova, M. Garami, Z. Pribilincova, R. Behulova, R. Mezenska, M. Lukacova, S. Zorad

Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Bratislava, Slovakia;
Molecular Genetics Laboratory, 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary;
II.Department of Pediatrics, University Childrens Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia;
Centre of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia
E-mail: ueenpint@savba.savba.sk

Objective. To analyse 21-hydroxylase gene for 8 most common mutations in patients with salt-wasting type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Methods. Allele specific PCR performed on 8 salt-wasting CAH patients and their 23 healthy relatives.
Results. Two patients were homozygous for 8 bp deletion in exon 3, while 6 patients were homozygous for intron 2 splice mutation. Mutant allele for splice mutation was find also in both parents of patients with this type of mutation.
Conclusions. These preliminary results show that only two mutations, 8 bp deletion in exon 3 and splice mutation in intron 2, were present in this group of Slovak patients with salt-wasting type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Key words: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia - Allele specific PCR - 21-hydroxylase - CYP21 gene - Slovak population

ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, Vol. 34, 65 - 72, 2000

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THE INFLUENCE OF THYROXINE ON INTENSITY OF ENERGY METABOLISM IN BONE MARROW MYELOID CELLS AND NEUTROPHILIC POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES OF NEONATAL PIG

H. Babych, H. Antonyak, A.YA. Sklyarov

Lviv State Medical University, Department of Biochemistry, Pekarska Street 69, 290010 Lviv, Ukraine
E-mail: babych@prima.meduniv.lviv.ua

Objectives. To investigate the participation of thyroxine in the regulation of energy metabolism in neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their bone marrow precursors.
Materials and Methods. The influence of L-thyroxine (T4; 4 mg/kg every 12 hr from day 2 to 10 of age) was estimated on the activity of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) and cytochrome C-oxidase in bone marrow myeloid cells and circulating neutrophils of 3, 5 and 10 day (d) old piglets. Serum T4 and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were estimated at every stage of experiment by radioimmunoassay. Bone marrow cells of myeloid lineage and blood neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes were separated by differential centrifugation of haematopoietic cell suspension using Ficoll-Hypaque gradients.
Results. The hyperthyroid status resulted in significant increase in PFK and LDH activity in myelocaryocytes of 3 and 3-5 d piglets, while the activity of HK and PK in the cells of 3-10 d animals remained unchanged. Moreover, ICDH activity in myelocaryocytes increased on day 10 and that of cytochrome C oxidase in bone marrow cells at all intervals. Marked increase in HK and LDH activity on day 3-5 was found also in blood polymorphonuclear granulocytes, while PFK and PK activity was increased during the whole period. At the same time even the increase in ICDH and cytochrome C-oxidase activity was observed, respectively, in 3 and 5-10 d old piglet neutrophils. Besides that, T4 inhibited G-6-PDH activity in myeloid cells on day 3 to 10 and did not influence the enzyme activity in circulating leucocytes.
Conclusions. The administration of T4 resulted in preferential stimulation of oxidative stages of carbohydrate catabolism in myelocaryocytes, while the activity of glycolytic enzymes in these cells was less affected. On the contrary, the enzymes of glycolysis in blood neutrophils showed higher sensitivity to T4 action as compared to catalysts of oxidative reactions. The intensity of pentose phosphate pathway seems to be inhibited in bone marrow myelocaryocytes of T4 treated animals, while that in blood leukocytes remained unaffected.
Key words: Thyroid hormones - Thyroxine - Haematopoiesis - Myelopoiesis - Myeloid cells - Leukocytes - Neutrophils - Energy metabolism

ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, Vol. 34, 73 - 81, 2000

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METHIMAZOLE PROTECTION AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED BY HYPERTHYROIDISM IN GRAVES’ DISEASE

J. Sewerynek, J. Wiktorska, D. Nowak, A. Lewinski

Department of Thyroidology, Institute of Endocrinology;
Department of Physiology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
E-mail: alewin@psk2.am.lodz.pl

Objective. To examine the dynamics of oxidative stress in patients with hyperthyroidism before and during the treatment with methimazole using the measurement of conjugated dienes, malondialdehyde, and Schiff bases in blood serum.
Methods. In eight female patients with diagnosed Graves disease and 8 healthy control subjects (7 females and one male) several parameters of oxidative stress (the level of conjugated dienes [CD], malondialdehyde [MDA] and Schiff bases [SB]) were estimated before and during the treatment with methimazole (Metizol -POLFA) as well as by hormonal and immunological tests. In addition, serum levels of TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), antibodies against thyroperoxidase (anti-TPO) and thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol fraction (LDL-Ch) were estimated.
Results. We observed increased concentrations of free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3), as well as of antithyroperoxidase (anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibodies. At the same time, TSH level was significantly suppressed. The concentrations of thyroid hormones and of TSH normalised after the methimazole treatment. The examined parameters, i.e., CD, MDA, and SB, were evaluated as proportions of each of them to the level of low density lipoproteins-cholesterol fraction (LDL-Ch). This fraction of cholesterol contains many polyunsaturated fatty acids, being a substrate for the peroxidation of lipids. Additionally, the CD/MDA ratio was calculated.
Conclusions. The increase of the CD/LDL ratio in Graves hyperthyroidism and its normalisation in the course of the treatment with methimazole suggests that the drug can be protective against the oxidative stress induced by overproduction of thyroid hormones. The ratio of CD/MDA decreased in all the patients, as compared to the control group, showing a high speed of lipid peroxidation.
Key words: Hyperthyroidism - Methimazole - Oxidative stress - Malondialdehyde - Conjugated dienes - Schiff bases

ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, Vol. 34, 83 - 89, 2000

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HISTOPATHOLOGY OF MAMMARY TUMOURS IN FEMALE RATS TREATED WITH 1-METHYL-1-NITROSOUREA

J. Liska, S. Galbavy, D. Macejova, J. Zlatos, J. Brtko

Institute of Histology and Embryology and
Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia;
Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 833 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
E-mail: ueenbrtk@savba.savba.sk

Objective. To induce, evaluate and classify advanced stages of mammary gland tumours induced by MNU.
Methods. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU; 50 mg.kg-1) on the day 33, 40, 47, 54 and 61 of age in the first experiment and on 50th and 113th day in the second experiment. On the 117th day (first experiment) and on the 153rd day of age (second experiment) the rats were sacrificed by decapitation and their mammary glands were evaluated both macroscopically and microscopically for the presence of grossly detectable mammary tumours. Mammary tumours were classified according to Russo et al. (1990).
Results and conclusions. The final incidence of palpable carcinomas was ranging from 60 % to 76 %. All microscopically evaluated tumours were malignant. Among the total number of lesions classified the percentage of invasive tumours ranged from 35 % to 44 %. No metastases were observed in other organs in MNU treated animals.
Key words: Histopathology - Mammary carcinoma - 1-methyl-1 Nitrosourea - Female rats

ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, Vol. 34, 91 - 96, 2000

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VITAMIN A, VITAMIN E AND CAROTENOID STATUS AND METABOLISM DURING AGEING: FUNCTIONAL AND NUTRITIONAL CONSEQUENCES (PROJECT PROPOSAL)

V. Azais-Braesco, B. Winklhofer-Roob, J. Ribalta, B. Hanley, M.P. Vasson, J. Brtko, R. Brigeluis-Flohe, A. Bronner

INRA-UMM-CRNH Centre de Theix, 63122 Saint-Genes Champanelle, France;
Karl-Franz University of Graz, Schubertstrasse 1, 8010 Graz, Austria;
Unitad de Recerca de lipids i atherosclerosi, Universitad Rovira i Vigili, Sant Llorenc, 21, 43201 Reus, Spain;
CSL, Sand Hutton York, YO41LZ, UK;
Faculte de Pharmacie, 28 pl Henri Dunant, 63001 Clermont-Fd, France;
Inst. of Exper. Endocrinology SAS, 83306 Bratislava, Slovakia;
German Inst. for Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, 14558 Bergholz-Rehbruecke, Germany;
IDACE, 194 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, Vol. 34, 97 - 98, 2000

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THYROID CARCINOMA: DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACH; GENETIC BACKGROUND (REVIEW)

A. Lewinski, T. Ferenc, S. Sporny, B. Jarzab

Department of Thyroidology, Institute of Endocrinology and
Department of Pathomorphology, Chair of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Lódz;
Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Military Medical University, Lódz;
The Oncology Center, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute, Gliwice, Poland
E-mail: alewin@psk2.am.lodz.pl

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art on the management of thyroid cancer in humans, including the following thyroid carcinomas: papillary, follicular, poorly differentiated (insular), undifferentiated (anaplastic), and medullary (sporadic and inherited forms). Also metastatic (secondary) neoplasms of the thyroid gland have been approached. The rules of treatment (surgical, with use of 131I and suppressive therapy with L-thyroxine) of particular types of thyroid cancers have been presented - both descriptively and by schemes. Furthermore, the role of genetic background in the pathogenesis of thyroid neoplasms has carefully been reviewed for papillary, follicular and medullary carcinoma. The paper constitutes a compendium of current views with respect to cytological and histopathological diagnostics of thyroid cancers.
Key words: Thyroid cancer - Pathomorphology - Cytology - Treatment - Genetic background

ENDOCRINE REGULATIONS, Vol. 34, 99 - 112, 2000

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