Exogenous Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone Research Articles

The effect of pergolide mesylate on adrenocorticotrophic hormone responses to exogenous thyrotropin releasing hormone in horses

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation testing is often used to support a diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses although it is unclear whether or not repeat TRH stimulation testing post-treatment is a valid means of assessing response to medical therapy. Laboratory submissions from 64 suspected equine PPID cases were examined including the initial pre-treatment TRH stimulation test and a follow up test within 100 days of starting medical therapy with pergolide. In a subset of cases, further follow-up tests were examined beyond 100 days of starting treatment. Results from tests conducted between 1 July and 30 November were excluded.Significant improvements were seen in both the baseline and TRH-stimulated adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentrations within 100 days with no further improvements seen in the subset of cases examined thereafter. Although 88% (n = 56/64) of all cases showed a decreased response to TRH post-treatment, only 24% (n = 9/38) of horses with positive pre-treatment TRH stimulation tests normalised following treatment, with a further 34% (n = 13/38) improving into an equivocal test outcome category. Most commonly (42%; n = 16/38), horses with positive pre-treatment TRH stimulation tests remained positive following treatment, although 75% (n = 12/16) of these showed a numerically lower post-treatment response to TRH. These results will help inform practitioners of expected changes in TRH stimulation test results when assessing response of horses with PPID to medical therapy with pergolide.

TRH Action Is Impaired in Pituitaries of Male IGSF1-Deficient Mice

Loss-of-function mutations in the X-linked immunoglobulin superfamily, member 1 (IGSF1) gene cause central hypothyroidism. IGSF1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein of unknown function expressed in thyrotropin (TSH)-producing thyrotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. The protein is cotranslationally cleaved, with only its C-terminal domain (CTD) being trafficked to the plasma membrane. Most intragenic IGSF1 mutations in humans map to the CTD. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce a loss-of-function mutation into the IGSF1-CTD in mice. The modified allele encodes a truncated protein that fails to traffic to the plasma membrane. Under standard laboratory conditions, Igsf1-deficient males exhibit normal serum TSH levels as well as normal numbers of TSH-expressing thyrotropes. However, pituitary expression of the TSH subunit genes and TSH protein content are reduced, as is expression of the receptor for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). When challenged with exogenous TRH, Igsf1-deficient males release TSH, but to a significantly lesser extent than do their wild-type littermates. The mice show similarly attenuated TSH secretion when rendered profoundly hypothyroid with a low iodine diet supplemented with propylthiouracil. Collectively, these results indicate that impairments in pituitary TRH receptor expression and/or downstream signaling underlie central hypothyroidism in IGSF1 deficiency syndrome.

Secondary amenorrhea in a woman with spinocerebellar degeneration treated with thyrotropin-releasing hormone: a case report and in vitro analysis

IntroductionWhile thyrotropin-releasing hormone is known to be a prolactin-release stimulating factor, thyrotropin-releasing hormone-tartrate and its derivative, taltirelin hydrate, are used for the treatment of spinocerebellar degeneration, a degenerative disease characterized mainly by motor ataxia. We report the case of a patient being treated with a thyrotropin-releasing hormone preparation for spinocerebellar degeneration who developed amenorrhea after a dose increase. Her hormonal background was analyzed and the effect of prolonged exposure to thyrotropin-releasing hormone on pituitary prolactin-producing cells was examined in vitro.Case presentationOur patient was a 36-year-old Japanese woman who experienced worsening of gait disturbance at around 23 years of age, and was subsequently diagnosed as having spinocerebellar degeneration. She had been treated with thyrotropin-releasing hormone-tartrate for four years. Taltirelin hydrate was added to the treatment seven months prior to her presentation, followed by an improvement in gait disturbance. Around the same period, she started lactating and subsequently developed amenorrhea three months later. Taltirelin hydrate was discontinued and she was referred to our hospital. She was found to have normal sex hormone levels. A thyrotropin-releasing hormone provocation test showed a normal response of thyroid-stimulating hormone level and an over-response of prolactin at 30 minutes (142.7 ng/mL). Resumption of menstruation was noted three months after dose reduction of thyrotropin-releasing hormone. In our in vitro study, following long-term exposure to thyrotropin-releasing hormone, cells from the rat pituitary prolactin-producing cell line GH3 exhibited an increased basal prolactin promoter activity but showed a marked decrease in responsiveness to thyrotropin-releasing hormone.ConclusionsPhysicians should be aware of hyperprolactinemia-associated side effects in patients receiving thyrotropin-releasing hormone treatment. Long-term treatment with a thyrotropin-releasing hormone preparation might cause a large amount of prolactin to accumulate in prolactin-producing cells and be released in response to exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation.

Disease versus Dimension in Diagnosis

Edward Shorter, PhD, FRSC1; Herman M van Praag, MD, PhD2 Can J Psychiatry. 2010;55(2):59-64. The Argument for Disease It is chimerical to think that psychiatric illness can be collapsed into couple of smooth dimensions. This is conceit that comes to us from psychoanalysis, which was uninterested in specificity of treatment. In reality, just as there are discrete diseases of the kidney, there are discrete diseases of the brain that produce behavioural symptoms. These can no more be scaled than renal tuberculosis and renal carcinoma can be arrayed onto single dimension. Let us consider the view, articulated by Samuel Guze1 in 1992, that psychiatry is branch of medicine. If we are to regard psychiatric diagnoses as medical diagnoses, how might they be constructed? Building on Guze,1 Max Fink and Michael Alan Taylor2 have proposed 3-fold basis for carving out discrete psychiatric illnesses: describing an illness entity in well-circumscribed Psychopathologie terms; verifying its existence with laboratory measures; and, validating it with distinctive response to treatment. Based on this triune measure of what one might call disease-ness, what solid disease diagnoses does psychiatry possess? Melancholia Out of the soup of depression, it is possible to fish several solid diagnoses that fulfill the above criteria. The major depression of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) is nondisease and should be divided into melancholia and nonmelancholia.3 Nonmelancholia is anything but discrete disease entity, while melancholia is probably the most solid disease that psychiatry possesses, characterized, in psychopathological terms, by psychomotor change and profound neurovegetative disturbances, and verified by such biological markers as positive response to the dexamethasone suppression test (in contrast to nonmelancholia), by REM latency, and by blunted thyroid-stimulating hormone response to exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone.4 Finally, melancholia is validated by distinctive response to tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Not all patients with purported melancholia will display these biological markers, but it is profoundly interesting that within the melancholia diagnosis there is psychopathological core of patients possessing this biological homogeneity. (Atypical depression neither shows the typical neurovegetative signs of melancholia nor responds well to ECT.) These cases of melancholia cannot be arrayed on dimensional scale, except in the trivial sense that the disease waxes and wanes. Catatonia Formerly, catatonia was considered subtype of schizophrenia. DSM-IV conceded that features5' p 417 might characterize mood disorder as well. Seldom has catatonia been seen as an independent illness entity worthy of a home of its own, as Fink and Taylor6 put it (in the title of their article). Nevertheless, clearly it belongs on the list of genuine psychiatric diseases because its psychopathology is well specified and has rating scale of its own. To be sure, it does not possess biological marker (verification), but in intravenous lorazepam, catatonia possesses differential treatment response (validation). (No other psychotic illness responds to lorazepam; symptoms of catatonia are also relieved with ECT.) Catatonia has no dimensional features: the diagnosis is made with the presence of 2 or more signs, and the score on the catatonia rating scale does not influence the response to treatment. It would be incorrect to say, as the dimensional argument might put it, that all of us possess embryonic catatonic symptoms that then aggravate under stress. Atypical Depression Atypical depression is less clearly delineated than melancholia and catatonia, in psychopathological terms, but nonetheless displays some underlying biological unity. …

Effect of Ghrelin and Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone on Prolactin Secretion in Normal Women

It is known that ghrelin stimulates the secretion of prolactin in women. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on ghrelin-induced prolactin release. Ten healthy normally cycling women were studied in four menstrual cycles. The women were injected intravenously in late follicular phase (follicle size 16-17 mm) with a single dose of normal saline (cycle 1), ghrelin (1 microg/kg) (cycle 2), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (200 microg) (cycle 3), and ghrelin plus thyrotropin-releasing hormone (cycle 4). Blood samples in relation to saline or drugs injection (time 0) were taken at -15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, and 120 min. The prolactin and growth hormone responses were assessed. After ghrelin administration (cycles 2 and 4), plasma ghrelin, serum prolactin, and growth hormone levels increased rapidly, peaking at 15-30 min (p<0.001). The injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (cycle 3) stimulated prolactin secretion markedly (p<0.001), but reduced growth hormone levels significantly (p<0.05). Ghrelin induced a smaller prolactin increase than thyrotropin-releasing hormone (p<0.05). The combination of ghrelin and thyrotropin-releasing hormone induced a similar increase in prolactin levels as with thyrotropin-releasing hormone alone. No changes in growth hormone and prolactin levels were seen after saline injection. These results demonstrate that the stimulating effect of ghrelin on prolactin secretion is not additive with that of thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Thyroid Hormone Resistance and Pituitary Enlargement After Thyroid Ablation in a Woman on Levothyroxine Treatment

We report a patient with inappropriate secretion of thyrotropin (TSH) and a pituitary mass. Although she had been treated for biochemical hyperthyroidism with thyroid surgery and radioiodine ablation, she had never complained of specific symptoms or demonstrated signs of overt thyroid dysfunction. On evaluation, she had increased free thyroxine and TSH levels, normal serum glycoprotein alpha-subunit levels, and a significant TSH over-response to exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation. Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium enhancement showed a pituitary enlargement with suprasellar extension. An indium In 111 pentetreotide scan showed an abnormal focus of radionuclide accumulation in the pituitary area. Sequencing of the TRbeta gene showed that the patient was heterozygous for a new single nucleotide substitution resulting in the replacement of the normal arginine with a serine at amino acid 320 (R320S). We review the difficulties encountered in establishing a correct diagnosis in patients with inappropriate secretion of TSH in combination with pituitary enlargement. Due to its possible false-negative results, we do not recommend the use of indium In 111 pentetreotide as a tool in the differential diagnosis of inappropriate secretion of TSH.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in the neuroaxis: Therapeutic effects reflect physiological functions and molecular actions

Nearly four decades of research have yielded thousands of publications on the physiology, pharmacology and therapeutic effects of TRH and TRH mimetic analogs. This work addresses both the neuroendocrine and the extrahypothalamic actions and functions of the tripeptide. The many reports of clinical effects of TRH in diverse medical conditions, unrelated to pituitary or thyroid function, can appear bewildering, as can its widespread involvement in a plethora of neuronal and physiological processes. Herein, we hypothesize that a logical and causal interrelationship exists between the fundamental molecular and cellular actions of TRH, its broader physiological functions and the therapeutic effects that attend the administration of exogenous TRH and TRH analogs. When viewed from this perspective, the basic neurobiological actions and functions of TRH provide a rational basis for understanding its diverse therapeutic effects. We posit: that the fundamental excitatory actions of TRH throughout the neuroaxis result from blocking various K+ channels linked to G-protein coupled TRH receptors in neurons and pituitary cells in distinct TRH-innervated anatomical pathways; that the functional consequences of blockade of these K+ channels are to enhance neuronal and secretory outputs in TRH regulatory circuits to modulate behavioral and energy homeostasis, and; that in clinical situations the resultant broad and useful therapeutic effects following administration of TRH reflect the state-dependent normalizing effects of activation of these regulatory circuits. In this light, the spectrum of reported clinical effects of TRH agonism remains unique and impressive but is less enigmatic. With the understanding that the neurobiological actions of TRH underlie and are rationally antecedent to its documented, extensive clinical 'normotrophic' effects, continued empirical efforts to assess the medical uses of TRH and related drugs seem rational and warranted. We predict that the range of disorders whose symptoms are alleviated by TRH therapy will continue to expand and that TRH agonism could conceivably become a near-universal therapeutic adjunct, particularly in the practice of neuropsychiatric medicine.

Tissue Deiodinase Activity during Prolonged Critical Illness: Effects of Exogenous Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and Its Combination with Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide-2

Prolonged critical illness is characterized by reduced pulsatile TSH secretion, causing reduced thyroid hormone release and profound changes in thyroid hormone metabolism, resulting in low circulating T(3) and elevated rT(3) levels. To further unravel the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the effects of exogenous TRH and GH-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in an in vivo model of prolonged critical illness. Burn-injured, parenterally fed rabbits were randomized to receive 4-d treatment with saline, 60 microg/kg.h GHRP-2, 60 microg/kg.h TRH, or 60 microg/kg.h TRH plus 60 microg/kg.h GHRP-2 started on d 4 of the illness (n = 8/group). The activities of the deiodinase 1 (D1), D2, and D3 in snap-frozen liver, kidney, and muscle as well as their impact on circulating thyroid hormone levels were studied. Compared with healthy controls, hepatic D1 activity in the saline-treated, ill animals was significantly down-regulated (P = 0.02), and D3 activity tended to be up-regulated (P = 0.06). Infusion of TRH and TRH plus GHRP-2 restored the catalytic activity of D1 (P = 0.02) and increased T(3) levels back within physiological range (P = 0.008). D3 activity was normalized by all three interventions, but only addition of GHRP-2 to TRH prevented the rise in rT(3) seen with TRH alone (P = 0.02). Liver D1 and D3 activity were correlated (respectively, positively and negatively) with the changes in circulating T(3) (r = 0.84 and r = -0.65) and the T(3)/rT(3) ratio (r = 0.71 and r = -0.60). We conclude that D1 activity during critical illness is suppressed and related to the alterations within the thyrotropic axis, whereas D3 activity tends to be increased and under the joint control of the somatotropic and thyrotropic axes.

Expression of thyrotropin-releasing hormone by human melanoma and nevi.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is a tripeptide hormone produced by the hypothalamus in response to hypothyroidism. RNA transcripts for the TRH prohormone have recently been described in melanoma cell lines. To expand these findings, we have examined cultured melanoma cells and melanocytes, human melanoma tumors, and nevi for the expression of TRH. Five melanoma cell lines were analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR/Southern blotting for preproTRH message. The same melanoma lines and two melanocyte lines were examined by immunocytochemistry for TRH protein expression and for growth response to exogenous TRH. Immunohistochemistry was used to test for TRH protein in sections of 19 melanomas, 33 dysplastic nevi, and 27 benign nevi. TRH message and protein were detected in all melanoma cell lines examined. Melanocytes were also found to express TRH protein. Four of the five melanoma cell lines but neither melanocyte line responded with a increase in proliferation to low concentrations of exogenous TRH. TRH immunoreactivity was observed in 12 of 19 melanomas (63%), 23 of 33 (69.7%) dysplastic nevi, and 14 of 27 (51.9%) benign nevi. Expression in dysplastic nevi was significantly greater than in benign nevi. Upon separate analysis of nevi from melanoma patients, the difference between dysplastic and benign nevi was even more significant. However, in healthy individuals, no difference between dysplastic and benign nevi was observed. Furthermore, dysplastic nevi from melanoma patients had a significantly higher percentage of TRH-positive cells when compared with healthy individuals. TRH is commonly expressed by melanomas and dysplastic nevi and may function as a melanoma autocrine growth factor. The presence of TRH in dysplastic nevi may be predictive for the development of melanoma. Our findings have significant clinical and biological implications for future research into the early stages of melanoma initiation and progression.

Reductions in circulating anabolic hormones induced by sustained sleep deprivation in rats.

The main systemic disorders resulting from prolonged sleep deprivation in laboratory animals are a negative energy balance, low circulating thyroid hormones, and host defense impairments. Low thyroid hormones previously have been found caused by altered regulation at the level of the hypothalamus with possible pituitary involvement. The present studies investigated the effects of sleep deprivation on other major anabolic hormonal systems. Plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations and major secretory bursts were characterized. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was evaluated as an integrative marker of peripheral GH effector activity. Prolactin (PRL) was assessed by basal concentrations and by stimulating the pituitary with exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Leptin was studied for its linkage to metabolic signs of sleep loss and its correspondence to altered neuroendocrine regulation in other disease states. Last, plasma corticosterone was measured to investigate the degree of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activation. Sleep deprivation was produced by the disk-over-water method, a well-established means of selective deprivation of sleep and noninterference with normal waking behaviors. Hormone concentrations were determined in sham comparisons and at intervals during baseline and experimental periods lasting at least 15 days in partially and totally sleep-deprived rats. The results indicate that high-amplitude pulses of GH were nearly abolished and that concentrations of GH, IGF-I, PRL, and leptin all were suppressed by sleep deprivation. Corticosterone concentration was relatively unaffected. Features of these results, such as low GH and low IGF-I, indicate failed negative feedback and point to hypothalamic mechanisms as containing the foci responsible for peripheral signs.

Neuroendocrinology of Prolonged Critical Illness: Effects of Exogenous Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and Its Combination with Growth Hormone Secretagogues

Neuroendocrinology of Prolonged Critical Illness: Effects of Exogenous Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and Its Combination with Growth Hormone Secretagogues

Prevalence of thyroid hormone abnormalities in elderly patients with symptoms of organic brain disease.

Analysis of the serum concentrations of free thyroid hormones (fT3, fT4) and thyrotropin (TSH) in 173 psychogeriatric patients (94 females and 79 males, mean age 79 +/- 8 years) disclosed that the hormone levels were related to sex, psychiatric diagnosis, medication and the presence of nonthyroid illness (NTI). Subnormal concentrations of thyroid hormones and/or TSH were found in 25% of the patients. In addition, fT3 and fT4 concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) in demented males compared with demented females although the levels were within the reference limits. Strongly negative correlations between fT3 and age (p < 0.001), and between fT3 and the sedimentation rate (SR) (p < 0.01) were found in demented but not in non-demented patients. These correlations were most pronounced in (age) or restricted to (SR) demented males. In addition, the correlation between fT3 and Hb was strongly positive (p < 0.001) in demented as well as in nondemented patients, particularly in males. The concentration of fT4 was positively correlated to Hb in demented males (p < 0.001), whereas TSH concentration was positively correlated to Hb in demented females (p < 0.05). The results show that TSH is not sufficient as the sole screening assay for evaluation of possible thyroid dysfunction in psychogeriatric patients. In addition, central (hypothalamic?) hypothyroidism may be present in a substantial amount of psychogeriatric patients, as we found an adequate TSH response to exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) also in patients with decreased fT3/fT4 and no signs of non thyroid diseases. Furthermore, there was an apparent lack of correlation between thyroid hormone levels and dementia (or subgroups of dementia), even though thyroid hormone abnormalities seemed to be rather common in frontotemporal dementia (38%) and non specified dementia (36%).

The Effects of Administration of Exogenous Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) to Levels of Insulin, C-peptide and Glucagon in Euthyroid and Hyperthyroid Subjects

Hyperthyroidism is associated with alterations in insulin, C-peptide and glucagon levels. Thereby exogenous TRH effects the secretion of these hormones. We aimed to assess the effect of exogenous TRH administration to the secretion of insulin, C-peptide, glucagon and plasma glucose in euthyroid and hyperthyroid patients. Five untreated hyperthyroid and 13 euthyroid patients took part in the study. Blood samples for measurements of TSH, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon and glucose were obtained before, and 20 and 40 min after IV administration of 400 mcg TRH in both groups. Basal insulin levels were higher in hyperthyroid subjects than in euthyroids while there was not any difference in C-peptide and glucagon between two groups. TRH stimulation caused in increased insulin, C-peptide and glucagon levels in euthyroid subjects. In the hyperthyroid group there was a non-significant increase in insulin, thereby a rise in C-peptide at the 40th min while glucagon levels showed a decline at both the 20th and 40th min following TRH stimulation. Hyperthyroidism under basal circumstances is associated with hyperinsulinism. Exogenous TRH administration increased insulin, C-peptide and glucagon levels in euthyroid subjects. Insulin levels did not alter, plasma glucose and c-peptide increased and glucagon levels decreased following TRH administration in hyperthyroid subjects.

Dynamics of Prolactin Secretion from Diethylstilbestrol-Induced Rat Prolactinoma Tissue In Vitro

Experiments were performed to determine whether PRL secretion in the rat diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced prolactinoma model is affected by the addition of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and/or immunoneutralization of intrapituitary vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in vitro. Male Fischer 344 rats were implanted with either a 10 mg DES or placebo pellet 30 days prior to obtaining the anterior pituitary glands for perifusion. The anterior pituitaries were quartered and used in three different perifusion experiments. In Experiment I, placebo-treated tissue channels were perifused for 2 baseline hr followed consecutively by a 30-min exposure to 1:100 nonimmune rabbit serum (NRS), a 30-min wash, and a final 30-min exposure to 10(-5) M TRH. Additional placebo channels were run as above except 1:100 VIP antiserum (AVIP) was substituted for NRS and AVIP was added to the TRH. In Experiment II, the same perifusion protocol was used as in Experiment I, except DES-induced tumor tissue was used instead of placebo tissue. Results from Experiment I and II reveal that AVIP significantly decreased PRL secretory rate in both DES and placebo groups. In the tumor group, both TRH alone and in the presence of AVIP significantly increased the PRL secretory rate. In Experiment III DES-induced tumor tissue channels were perifused with a similar protocol, except the concentrations of NRS and AVIP were increased to 1:10. Both NRS and AVIP significantly decreased PRL secretory rate; however, AVIP had a significantly greater effect than NRS. In this experiment, 1:10 AVIP overcame the stimulatory effect of TRH. In conclusion, AVIP decreases and TRH increases, even in the presence of AVIP, PRL release in DES-induced prolactinoma tissue in vitro. Increasing the AVIP concentration 10-fold diminished the PRL-releasing action of TRH in the tumor tissue. These data suggested that PRL secretion is not autonomous in these prolactinomas and can be affected by exogenous TRH and partial immunoneutralization of endogenous VIP.

Serotonin enhances gastric acid response to TRH analogue in dorsal vagal complex through 5-HT2 receptors in rats

The effect of serotonin (5-HT) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogue, p-Glu-His-[3,3'-dimethyl]-Pro-NH2 (RX-77368), injected into the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) on gastric acid secretion was assessed in urethan-anesthetized rats with gastric cannula. 5-HT (0.1, 0.2, 1, or 10 nmol into the DVC) enhanced the acid response to RX-77368 (25 pmol, DVC) by 54, 100, 147, and 144%, respectively, whereas 5-HT given alone had no effect. The 5-HT2 receptor agonists (1 nmol, DVC), ( +/- )-1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride, 1-(alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-piperazine hydrochloride, and alpha-methyl-5-HT increased the gastric acid response to coinjection of RX-77368 (25 pmol) by 153, 108, and 96%, respectively, whereas 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (5-HT1A), 7-trifluoromethyl-4(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)- pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline (5-HT1A/1B), and 3-(2-aminoethyl)-2-methyl-1-H-indol-5-ol hydrochloride hydrate (2-methyl-5-HT3) did not. The 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, 3-[2-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-1-piperdinyl]ethyl]-2,4(1H,3H)-quinazoli nedone tartrate (ketanserin; 20 nmol), injected intracisternally abolished the potentiating action of 5-HT injected into the DVC with RX-77368, whereas the 5-HT antagonists 8-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4,5]- decan-4-one (spiperone; 5-HT2/1A) and 1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1- yl)methyl]-4H-carbazol-4-one hydrochloride dihydrate (ondansetron; 5-HT3) did not. Ketanserin (1 nmol/site bilaterally into the DVC) decreased the acid response to kainic acid injected into the raphe pallidus by 62%. These data suggest that 5-HT acting at 5-HT2 receptors in the DVC potentiates the gastric acid response to exogenous and endogenous TRH.

Hormonal Regulation of the Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) Gene

Significant advances in understanding the function, distribution, and hormonal regulation of TRH gene expression have occurred since the cloning of the TRH gene. TRH gene expression is widespread in the CNS and peripheral sites but only TRH mRNA located in the paraventricular nucleus is under negative regulation by thyroid hormone. Molecular biological experiments using gene transfer of TRH promoter-reporter mini' genes reproduce the in vivo transcriptional repression by thyroid hormones. In vitro binding studies using the TRH promoter demonstrate binding sites for transcriptional trans-acting factors including thyroid hormone receptor, CREB, and c-jun. The divergent hormonal response of the TRH gene in the thyrotropic area of the hypo-thalamus compared to peripheral sites illustrate the importance in hormonal regulation of the distribution of cell-specific factors including nuclear hormone receptors and transcription factors.The TRH stimulation test has been replaced by second and third generation TSH assays in the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The paradoxical response of some pituitary adenomas to exogenous TRH administration allows the use of the TRH test as a marker for these tumors. The studies demonstrating the widespread distribution and function of TRH have provided information that has led to the new and exciting field of the therapeutic use of TRH in a wide array of clinical disorders.

Internalization and nuclear localization of peptide hormones

The presence of neuropeptide receptors on the plasma membrane is well accepted, as is its internalization and down-regulation. The analysis of the fate of these peptides within their target-cells is difficult. Endogenous peptides or administered native peptides are visualized in these cells using immunocytology after cryoultramicrotomy. Labelled peptides can be injected and their internalization kinetics studied using ultrastructural autoradiography. The pituitary gland is a suitable model for the study of the neuropeptide mechanism, with the lactotroph function being taken as an example in the present case. Prolactin (PRL) release depends on two main neuropeptides: thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and somatostatin (SS). The TRH immunoreactivity obtained from endogenous as well as injected material was restricted to the plasma membrane, secretory granules, cytoplasmic matrix and nucleus. The internalization kinetics of exogenous native TRH showed an increase of immunoreactive material in all compartments including the nucleus. The endogenous SSs (SS14 and SS28) were detected in the same subcellular lactotroph compartments. Injection of 125I-SS showed a rapid binding of SS at the plasma membrane level before internalization. For 60 min of in vivo uptake, 125I-SS28, the large SS molecule, was detected in the cytoplasm only, while 125I-SS14 was found in the nuclear matrix. In vitro 125I-SS28 was restricted to the nuclear membrane. Under physiological conditions the endogenous neuropeptides were visualized in the nucleus, but after injection of labelled peptides only small molecules were found in the nucleus. The significance of the presence of these neuropeptides is discussed.

Assessment of the role of TRH in the release of [ 3H]-dopamine from rat nucleus accumbens-lateral septum slices

We have studied [ 3H]-dopamine ([ 3H]-DA) release from rat nucleus accumbens lateral septum slices in response to various paradigms aimed at increasing endogenous or exogenous thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) concentrations in the extracellular space. High KCl concentrations significantly enhanced [ 3H]-DA release by fourfold. TRH (10 −4 or 5 × 10 −4 M) did not affect [ 3H]-DA release. The release of [ 3H]-DA was not stimulated by TRH either in the presence of N-l-carboxy-2-phenylethyl (N imbenzyl)-histidylβnaphthylamide, a specific pyroglutamyl peptidase II inhibitor, or that of specific inhibitors of prolyl endopeptidase and pyroglutamyl peptidase I. None of the peptidase inhibitors modified the [ 3H]-DA release by themselves. These results suggest that the TRH stimulation of [ 3H]-DA release in vitro observed in previous studies is not due to peptide inactivation but may be due to a nonspecific effect. TRH enhancement of DA release in nucleus accumbens in vivo may not be the result of a direct effect of TRH on DA terminals.

Distribution of thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger RNA in the rat brain: An in situ hybridization study

Based on the recent cloning of the mouse thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor, oligonucleotide probes complementary to the DNA sequence were constructed and used for in situ hybridization studies on the rat brain. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger RNA was found in many areas of the brain, mostly showing high degree of overlap with the distribution of thyrotropin-releasing hormone binding sites as previously revealed in autoradiographic studies. Thus, a strong signal was observed in the accessory olfactory bulb, the perirhinal sulcus, the ventral aspects of the hippocampal formation, some amygdaloid nuclei, the diagonal band nucleus, parts of nucleus accumbens, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, dorsomedial, lateral and perifornical hypothalamic regions, the septo-hippocampal nucleus, parts of the vestibular complex, as well as many bulbar motoneurons including the facial, dorsal vagal, ambiguus and hypoglossal nuclei, the superficial layer of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, and motoneurons and dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord. Cells within one and the same nucleus expressed varying levels of thyrotropin releasing hormone receptor messenger RNA suggesting marked differences in rate of receptor synthesis. Most of these areas receive an input by thyrotropin-releasing hormone-positive nerve endings.Taken together these results suggest that thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors are mostly localized in the vicinity of the cell bodies which express thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger RNA and mediate the wide range of actions that have been recorded after administration of exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Effect of exogenous thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration on plasma levels of triiodothyronine (T 3), thyroxine (T 4) and growth hormone (GH) in chronically catheterized suckling piglets

The purpose of the present study was to determine experimental conditions to stimulate secretion of thyroid hormones (T 3 and T 4) with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) injections in suckling piglets during the first weeks of postnatal life. Three consecutive experiments were conducted. Four 10–20 d old piglets were i.m. injected with 0, 20, 100, 500 μg (experiment 1) or 0, 4, 20, 100 μg TRH/kg BW (experiment 2) according to a 4 × 4 latin square design involving different litters in each experiment. Blood samples were taken −15, −1, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 180 and 300 min after TRH injection in experiment 1, and −.25, −.08, .25, .5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hr after TRH injection in experiment 2. T 3 and T 4 levels were significantly (P<.01) increased as soon as 30 and 45 min after TRH injection, respectively. Maximal levels of T 3 and T 4 were obtained 2 and 4 hr after the injection of 100 μg TRH. T 3 and T 4 returned to basal levels within 6 and 8 hr post injection, respectively. Plasma pGH levels were significantly (P<.001) increased 15 min after TRH injection in piglets injected with 500 μg. In experiment 3, 100 μg TRH/kg BW were injected i.m. either daily or every other day from .0 to 23 days of age. Results showed that T 4 response to TRH did not decrease after repeated injections. These results indicate that daily i.m. injections of 100 μg TRH/kg BW can be used to increase thyroid hormone levels for at least 13 d in the young suckling piglet.