Expression of thyrotropin receptors in rat thymus.
Thymic hyperplasia is associated with Graves' disease. It has been demonstrated that thyrotropin receptors are expressed in human thymus, and thymic thyrotropin receptors are suggested to be involved in the pathophysiology of Graves' disease. We have studied whether thyrotropin receptors are expressed in rat thymic tissue. Thyrotropin receptor mRNA was demonstrated in 5-day-old, 10-day-old, 20-day-old and adult rat thymus by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Thyrotropin receptor mRNA was also demonstrated in cultured rat thymic epithelial cells. Thyrotropin stimulated cyclic AMP production in cultured rat thymic epithelial cells, suggesting the expression of functional thyrotropin receptors. The present results indicate that thyrotropin receptors are expressed in rat thymus.
Murakami
M
M
First Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. mmurakam@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Hosoi
Y
Y
Araki
O
O
Morimura
T
T
Imamura
M
M
Ogiwara
T
T
Mizuma
H
H
Mori
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D000242:Cyclic AMP