Protein kinase C activity in experimentally developed and regressed rat thyroid goitres

The presence of protein kinase C activity in rat thyroid glands was demonstrated by kinetic studies, using lysine-rich histone as substrate. DE 52 cellulose chromatography resolved thyroidal protein kinase C activity into two peaks, the first eluting at 50 mM and the second at 150 mM salt solution. They contained respectively 40% and 60% of the total activity. In cytosols from experimentally induced goitres, which are hyperplastic tissues, protein kinase C activity rose 3-4-fold compared to control glands. In this tissue, protein kinase C seems to be present in reversibly activated form, since its activity was completely inhibited in the absence of calcium and phospholipids. After removal of growth stimulus, rapid involution of goitres occurred, producing a spectacular decrease in protein kinase C activity. In goitres regressed for 5 days, the level of protein kinase C was lower than in untreated control tissue. The protein kinase C activities in control glands and developed and regressed goitres were 1.88, 5.85 and 0.74 pmoles 32P/mg tissue, respectively. These results clearly demonstrate, for the first time, a direct correlation between the protein kinase C level and the thyroid gland growth activity induced by endogenous stimuli.