Effect of thiocyanate induced hypothyroidism on 5'deiodinase activity and T3 receptors in developing rat brain

Experiments were performed in weaning rats to understand the influence of thiocyanate, an hydrolytic product of glucosinolates present in foods, on the generation of T3 in situ by type II 5'deiodinase and the binding of 125I T3 to specific nuclear receptors in developing brain. Feeding of thiocyanate through gestation and lactation resulted in an increase in type II 5'deiodinase activity in cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem of the 21 day old pups compared to controls. Hypothyroidism induced by thiocyanate further resulted in augmentation of the maximum binding capacity of receptors in the cerebrum of the weaning pups. Affinity constants for binding of 125I T3 were however, unaltered. Increase in type II 5'deiodinase activity and the number of binding sites point to an adaptive increase in response to thiocyanate induced hypothyroidism to maintain the cellular T3 levels within a narrow limit.