Accelerated exocytosis and H2O2 generation in isolated thyroid follicles enhance protein iodination

Open pig thyroid follicles in which the apical surface of the follicle cells is in direct contact with the incubation medium were used to study the effect of stimulated exocytosis and stimulated H2O2 generation on the iodination of protein in the incubation medium. In previous studies on this system of follicles we have shown (1) that the apical surface of the follicle cells is a major site of protein iodination and (2), that H2O2 is produced at the apical cell surface. In the present study we confirmed the previous finding that H2O2 generation is greatly stimulated by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. We further found that TSH at a high concentration (greater than 10 mU/ml) and in the presence of Ca2+ stimulated H2O2 generation; TSH had no such effect on follicles incubated in Ca2+-free medium after pretreatment with EGTA. Forskolin did not stimulate H2O2 generation. Exocytosis of thyroglobulin was stimulated by TSH at a low concentration (0.1 mU/ml), and this stimulation was not dependent on Ca2+. Exocytosis was also stimulated by forskolin but not by A23187. Iodination of protein, including thyroglobulin, in the incubation medium was stimulated by A23187, TSH and forskolin. These observations suggest that stimulation of iodination in association with the apical surface of the follicle cells can be achieved separately by an increased rate of H2O2 generation and increased rate of exocytosis. Generation of H2O2 is Ca2+-dependent, whereas exocytosis is mediated by the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system; TSH at a high concentration can stimulate both these processes.