Endocrinology, Vol 97, 162-168, Copyright © 1975 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Effects of TSH on iodide transport by mouse thyroid lobes in vitro

JA Williams and SA Malayan

Thyroidal iodide concentration by in vitro mouse thyroid lobes was studied by determining the equilibrium tissue/medium iodide, concentration ratio (T/M[I-]), THYROIDAL I- influx, and thyroidal I- efflux in the presence and absence of ClO4-. Chronic thyroid stimulation by low dietary iodine increased the T/M[I-], and the increase was linearly related to I- influx. There was no difference in efflux rate when animals fed low and high iodine diets were compared, although the efflux with C104- added to block influx was increased by low iodine diet. Addition of TSH in vitro caused a delayed fall in T/M[I-] with a similar TSH concentration-dependence as colloid droplet formation. The TSH effect was mimicked by exogenous cyclic AMP but could be dissociated from stimulation of hormone release by colchicine. Thyroidal I- efflux was increased up to 20-fold by C104-. In the presence of C104- short-term and equilibrium-labeled I- exited at the same rate, but in the absence of C104- short-term-labeled I- efflux was consistently higher. The TSH-induced fall in T/M I- could be accounted for by increased iodide efflux. As TSH also increased efflux when influx was blocked by C104-, the TSH effect would seem due to an increased intrinsic follicular leakiness.