The deiodination of thyroxine to triiodothyronine by kidney slices of rats with varying thyroid function.

Abstract

THE identification of triiodiothyronine in biological materials and subsequent demonstration of its metabolic activity has stimulated interest in its relationship to thyroxine. Several observations from in vivo experiments have led to the concept that thyroxine is converted to triiodothyronine in peripheral tissues (Gross and Leblond, 1951; Gross and Pitt-Rivers, 1952 a; Flock and Bollman, 1954; Kalant, Lee and Sellers, 1955). Further support for this relationship was afforded by the demonstration of the deiodination of thyroxine to triiodothyronine in vitro by rat kidney slices (Albright, Larson and Tust, 1954). The deiodination reaction assumes greater significance if it can be shown to depend upon the level of thyroid activity. The purpose of the present paper is to report experiments on thyroxine deiodination by kidney slices of rats with varying thyroid function. methods and materials Female rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain weighing 100–150 gm, were used.