Thymic hormone containing cells. IV. Fluctuations in the thyroid hormone levels in vivo can modulate the secretion of thymulin by the epithelial cells of young mouse thymus.
The influence of thyroid status on serum level and thymic content of thymulin, a thymic hormone, has been studied in young rats and mice treated by tri-iodothyronine (T3) or 6N-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU). We showed that in vivo T3 administration induces in young animals an increase of their thymulin serum levels and of the number of thymulin containing cells in their thymuses. Conversely, a treatment with PTU decreases the thymulin serum levels and the number of cells containing the hormone. These findings suggest that thyroid hormones stimulate the synthesis and secretion of thymulin and represent further evidence for the hormonal influence on the regulation of thymic endocrine secretion.
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating