Cyclic AMP release from normal human thyroid slices in response to thyrotrophin

Abstract

Abstract. Slice preparations of normal human thyroid tissue were incubated in vitro with TSH. The cyclic AMP contents of slices were determined at intervals up to 120 min, and cyclic AMP in the incubation medium was also estimated for each incubation period. Slice cyclic AMP levels were related both to incubation time and TSH dose. In response to 10 mU TSH/ml, slice cyclic AMP levels were maximal within 60 min, and were not significantly changed at 120 min. Cyclic AMP was detectable in the medium within 10 min of slice exposure to TSH, and increased throughout the initial 60 min of incubation. Cyclic AMP release during this period was dependent on both TSH dose and incubation time. Between 60–120 min, however, cyclic AMP release partially lost its TSH dose-dependency, and 0.5–5.0 mU TSH/ml were equipotent with respect to the final medium cyclic AMP level attained. Slices incubated without TSH released only small amounts of cyclic AMP, and maximal levels were attained within 20 min. In contrast to the adenylate cyclase response of thyroid membrane preparations, which was stimulated by NaF, suggesting that cyclic AMP release was not a result of the stimulation of damaged cells. These findings demonstrate the importance of cyclic AMP release from human thyroid slices, following in vitro exposure to TSH, and suggest that, after incubation periods such as are used for the functional biodetection of thyroid stimulators, the magnitude of cyclic AMP release may be of quantitative significance.