Effect of hypothyroidism on pituitary cytoplasmic concentrations of messenger RNA encoding thyrotrophin β and α subunits, prolactin and growth hormone

Abstract

Thyroid hormones may directly regulate gene expression in the anterior pituitary. In order to examine this possibility we have studied the effect of hypothyroidism in the rat on pituitary cytoplasmic concentrations of messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding thyrotrophin (TSH) β and α subunits, prolactin and GH. We demonstrated a marked increase in TSH β and α subunit mRNA, accompanied by a decrease in GH mRNA, in the hypothyroid state, changes largely reversed by thyroid hormone replacement. We have thus shown a direct influence of thyroid status on the pretranslational events occurring in pituitary hormone synthesis. The simultaneous rise in cytoplasmic TSH β and α mRNA levels and fall in GH mRNA in hypothyroidism suggests that thyroid status exerts a differential effect on the expression of these genes. J. Endocr. (1986) 108, 43–47