Abstract:
In cultured porcine thyrocytes the effect of hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA) on the uptake of [125I]iodide and of [3H]thymidine was investigated. The effect of HMBA was studied in the presence or absence of thiamazole, perchlorate and TSH in NCTC-135 medium containing 0,6 µM retinol and in special preparations of NCTC-135 without retinol.
When compared to controls a significant decrease of iodide uptake into thyroid cells was observed in the presence of 6 and 8 mM HMBA plus TSH (1,3 mU/culture) in both media. The absolute uptake of iodide into thyrocytes under these HMBA concentrations however was significantly higher when cells were cultured in medium with 0,6 µM retinol than in retinol-free medium. HMBA in combination with thiamazole (2 mM) or perchlorate (1 mM) resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in iodide uptake when cells were cultured in retinol-free medium but caused an increase in iodide uptake when retinol containing medium was used. In the absence of retinol HMBA (2 and 6 mM, without TSH) significantly increased the uptake of iodide into thyrocytes after 16 and 40 h stimulation suggesting that retinol can influence the effects of HMBA on thyrocytes.
A significant decrease of [3H]thymidine uptake into thyroid cells was observed in the presence of 6 and 8 mM HMBA plus TSH (1,3 mU/culture) after an incubation periode of 48 h using retinol-free medium whereas dose-dependent increase of [3H]thymidine uptake was noted when thyrocytes were cultured in retinol-containing medium. This finding corroborates the hypothesis that retinol is able to modify the effects of HMBA on thyrocytes.
The simultaneous stimulation of the thyroid cells with HMBA and thiamazole (2 mM) or perchlorate (1 mM) had no significant effect on [3H]thymidine uptake. The absolute rate of the thymidine uptake into thyrocytes treated with HMBA and thiamazole or with HMBA and perchlorate was significantly lower when cells were cultured in medium with retinol compared to cells cultured in retinol-free medium. In the absence of retinol, thyrocytes treated for 16 and 40 h with HMBA (2 or 6 mM) and TSH (0,1 mU and 0,5 mU/culture) showed an increase in the thymidine uptake depending on the TSH level.
TSH (1 mU/culture) reduced the number of apoptotic cells irrespective of the presence of retinol in the medium. The rates of apoptosis under HMBA (2 and 6 mU) did not differ from those of the controls.
It appears that the effect of HMBA on cultured porcine thyrocytes is strongly influenced by the basal retinol concentrations. Under normal retinol supply HMBA decreased the TSH-induced iodide uptake and increased the thymidine uptake. HMBA also did not induce apoptosis in the concentrations studied. This suggests that the substance in normal thyrocytes possess a small anti-proliferative effect but does not severely damage the cells.