title: Pure alpha-subunit producing tumor derived from a thyrotropic tumor: impaired regulation of alpha-subunit and its mRNA by thyroid hormone.
abstract: We have recently described a mouse pituitary tumor line which produces only the alpha-subunit of the glycoprotein hormones. This tumor line may be a useful animal model to study autonomous pituitary tumors which secrete only alpha-subunit. Our pure alpha-subunit producing tumor was derived from a thyrotropic tumor which secreted intact TSH as well as free alpha-subunit. Our current studies compare the regulation of alpha-subunit biosynthesis in a conventional thyrotropic tumor and the alpha-subunit producing tumor. Thyroxine or triiodothyronine administration to mice bearing the alpha-subunit producing tumor resulted in no change in plasma alpha-subunit concentration, and a 10-19% reduction in tumor alpha-subunit mRNA concentration that was not statistically significant. In contrast, thyroxine administration to mice bearing the thyrotropic tumor resulted in an 81% reduction in plasma alpha-subunit concentration, and a 75% reduction in tumor alpha-subunit mRNA concentration (P less than 0.01). Other studies using a cDNA specific for thyrotropin-beta (TSH beta) failed to detect TSH beta mRNA in the alpha-subunit producing tumor, while TSH beta mRNA was easily detected in the conventional thyrotropic tumor. We conclude that during the development of the alpha-subunit producing tumor from a thyrotropic tumor, loss of TSH beta mRNA was also associated with an impaired capacity for thyroid hormone to decrease concentrations of alpha-subunit mRNA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kieffer
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shupnik
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ridgway
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000235:genetics; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D004247:DNA; D013974:Thyroxine