Effects of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on thyroid hormone secretion

The effects of various alpha-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists on blood radioiodine levels were studied in mice pre-treated with 125I and thyroxine. The non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor agonist noradrenaline and the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine both enhanced blood radioiodine levels. Noradrenaline was more potent than phenylephrine. Contrary, the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine depressed basal levels of blood radioiodine. The non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine and the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin both inhibited the noradrenaline-induced elevation of radioiodine levels, whereas the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine had no such effect, except at a high dose level. All three alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, noradrenaline, phenylephrine and clonidine, inhibited the radioiodine response to TSH. In addition, TSH-induced increase in radioiodine levels was inhibited by prazosin, whereas yohimbine had no effect. Phentolamine inhibited the radioiodine response to TSH when given 2 h prior to TSH, whereas when given 15 min prior to TSH the response to TSH was potentiated by phentolamine. It is concluded, that under in vivo conditions in the mouse, alpha 1-adrenoceptor activation stimulates basal thyroid hormone secretion and inhibits TSH-induced thyroid hormone secretion. Further, alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation inhibits basal thyroid hormone secretion. In addition, TSH-induced thyroid hormone secretion is inhibited by alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonism. Thus, alpha-adrenoceptors induce both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of thyroid function.