Transient lack of response to TSH of human cultured thyroid cells obtained from hyperfunctioning tissue

TSH-induced cAMP accumulation in cells obtained from normal and pathological thyroid tissue was studied during the first 12 days of primary culture. In normal thyroid tissue cultures (N = 7), the response of cAMP to TSH was present from the second day of culture and reached its maximum after 8 days. A similar behaviour was observed in cultures obtained from euthyroid sporadic goitres (N = 8), even if the rate of response was slightly lower than that of normal tissue. Similarly, cultured cells from euthyroid 'autonomous' nodules (N = 8) appeared to be responsive to TSH during the period of study, but the rate of response was also lower than in the controls. On the contrary, in cultures obtained from toxic adenomas (N = 5) and from diffuse toxic goitres (N = 5) the response to TSH was absent during the first 4 days of culture. The cells became sensitive to TSH from 6 and 6 day onwards, with the rate of response increasing progressively and reaching its maximum on day 12. Finally, in cultured cells obtained from different areas of multinodular toxic goitres (N = 4), the response to TSH was similar to that of euthyroid goitres in cells prepared from 'cold' areas, and to that of toxic adenomas in cells obtained from 'hot' areas. The present data demonstrate the existence of an inhibitory action of unknown factors, possibly iodothyronines or thyroglobulin, on the TSH effect in short-term cultures obtained from thyrotoxic tissues. A normal TSH responsiveness can be restored when the culture is prolonged.