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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Author Spotlight: In Vivo Assessment of Thyroid Hormone Disruption Using the THAI Mouse Model
Published on: October 6, 2023
Molecular insights into the possible role of Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 in thyroid hormone biosynthesis
Helton Estrela Ramos1, Magnus Régios Dias da Silva, Aurore Carré
1INSERM U1016, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Introduction:
Thyroid morphogenesis is a complex process. Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) genes play a role in hormone release, cell excitability, pH and K(+) homeostasis in many tissues.
Objectives:
To investigate the thyroid developmental expression of three members, Kir4.1, Kir4.2 and Kir5.1, in mice. To postulate the K(+) channel role in thyroid hormone secretion.
Material And Methods:
Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of Kir4.1, Kir4.2 and Kir5.1 in mice of different stages (E13.5-E18.5).
Results:
mRNA for Kir4.1, Kir4.2 and Kir5.1 were identified and increased with age in mice. Both Kir4.1 and Kir4.2 genes are better expressed after E16.5. Kir4.2 greatly increases from E13.5 to E16.5 (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion:
Quantitative PCR shows that the mouse thyroid presents increased expression for Kir channels during development. The role of Kir in thyroid morphogenesis and differentiation might be understood in future studies. We speculate that thyroglobulin trafficking might be modulated by Kir4.1/5.1.
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