Abstract
The stimulatory effect of thyroid hormone (T3, T4) on growth is clinically well known. Although a stimulation of tumor cell growth by T3 was found by Samuels, in vitro experiments of Whitefield and other authors failed to demonstrate an effect of T3 or T4 on cell proliferation. T4 has been shown by us to stimulate thymocytes (TC) proliferation in vivo.
Material and methods:TC and lymphocytes, isolated from male Wistar rats, were incubated 2-32 h; 10−4 - 10−7M T4 or 10−8 - 10−10M T3 were added. Proliferation was measured by H3-thymidine uptake (pulse labelling). Results:T4 (10−7M) as well as T3 at physiol. cone. (5×10−9M) increase the proliferation of TC in cell culture (p<0,01). With T4, two peaks of H3-thymidine uptake were seen after 8 rsp. 24 h. These peaks were not abolished by preincubation of TC before adding T4. Cell proliferation rose with increasing cone. of T4 and fell off at high T4 cone. In contrast, max. T3 effect was seen already after 4 h incubation.
Conclusion:This in vitro effect of T4 and T3 on cell proliferation is interesting in view of the known stimulatory effect of T4 on growth.
With support of “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft”
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Bommer, J., Huberti, H., Jedanzik, S. et al. 114: Federal Republic of Germany Stimulation of thymocytes by T4 or T3 in vitro. Pediatr Res 10, 889 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00105
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00105
