title: The effects of cysteamine on thyrotropin and immunoreactive beta-endorphin secretion in the rat.
abstract: We examined the effects of the thiol agent cysteamine (CSH), which is known to deplete the hypothalamus of immunoreactive somatostatin, on physiological TSH and beta- endorphin secretion in the adult male rat. CSH at doses of 90 and 300 mg/kg CSH produced a rapid decline in plasma TSH, whereas a dose of 30 mg/kg did not alter plasma TSH levels. After the higher doses of CSH, TSH levels in the blood remained lower than control values on day 2, but returned to normal by 1 week. This decrease in TSH within the plasma was not associated with a reduction in hypothalamic TRH concentrations. The TSH response to 500 ng/kg TRH was normal in CSH-treated animals. Blockade of norepinephrine synthesis with diethyldithiocarbamate (500 mg/kg) or fusaric acid (100 mg/kg) inhibited TSH secretion in a manner similar to that of CSH. beta-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity (bet-End-LI) was elevated in the plasma immediately after CSH (300 mg/kg) administration. This was associated with a 58% reduction in anterior pituitary beta-End-LI and no change in hypothalmic beta-End-LI. Plasma beta-End-LI returned to normal on day 2. The increase in plasma beta-End-LI induced by immobilization stress was not compromised by CSH treatment. The observed effects of CSH on both TSH and beta-End-LI are consistent with a reduction in central norepinephrine neurotransmission through the known actin of CSH to inhibit dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. Acute stress may play a role as well in the observed changes in TSH and beta-End-LI secretion.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D013373:Substance P; D003543:Cysteamine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D013972:Thyrotropin