Role of thyroxine in functional gastric development

Abstract

The role of thyroxine (T4) on the functional development of chief and parietal cells was studied in the rat. Daily injection of thyroxine (0.1 microgram/g body wt) resulted in the precocious appearance of pepsinogen in the oxyntic gland mucosa and an increase in basal acid output. Thyroxine had no effect in adrenalectomized rats. In propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroid pups, pepsinogen content and basal acid secretion were low. Corticosterone acetate (200 micrograms/g body wt) injection increased pepsinogen content and basal acid secretion in the absence of normal levels of thyroid hormones. We conclude that the effect of thyroxine on the development of chief and parietal cells is primarily due to accompanying changes in serum corticosterone.