Direct anabolic effects of thyroid hormone on isolated mouse heart

J. S. Crie, J. R. Wakeland, B. A. Mayhew, K. Wildenthal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The direct effects of L-and D-triiodothyronine (T3) on cardiac protein metabolism were investigated using fetal mouse hearts in organ culture. This model allowed the production of 'thyrotoxicosis' in isolated hearts in vitro in the absence of the usual systemic metabolic and hemodynamic effects of thyroid hormones. Hearts were studied during the first 24 h of T3 exposure in culture, before changes in beating rate due to T3 occurred. Phenylalanine release was decreased by 26 ± 2.3% (P < 0.001) by the optimal concentrations of T3 (10-7 to 10-6 M). Changes were similar in the presence or absence of insulin. D-T3 was also anabolic, decreasing phenylalanine release by 24 ± 2.5% (P < 0.001) at concentrations of 10-6 to 10-5 M. The L-isomer increased protein synthesis by 23 ± 6.8% (P < 0.05) and decreased protein degradation, as measured by phenylalanine release in the presence of cycloheximide, by 5 ± 1.6% (P < 0.01). The D-isomer also increased protein synthesis but had no measurable effect on protein degradation. We conclude that thyroid hormones can exert direct anabolic effects on heart in the absence of systemic hemodynamic and metabolic changes. These effects are mediated primarily through an acceleration of the rate of protein synthesis; in the case of L-T3, a small inhibition of proteolysis may also occur.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology
Volume14
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1983

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Physiology

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