Characterization of T3 immunoreactivity release from thyroid gland in vitro a reflection of colloid droplet formation

T3 immunoreactivity release from the thyroid gland in vitro was shown to be increased by TSH. In the present study, we sought to determine whether the T3 immunoreactivity release is an indicator of thyroid hormone secretion or due to hormone synthesis. When thyroid glands from mice were incubated with TSH, T3 immunoreactivity release was increased in parallel with intracellular colloid droplet formation in a dose related manner. When colchicine, a known inhibitor of colloid droplet formation, was added, both T3 immunoreactivity release and colloid droplet formation were inhibited, whereas MMI, an inhibitor of hormone synthesis, failed to influence both aspects. Thus T3 immunoreactivity release as a reflection of colloid droplet formation was demonstrated. The analysis of the released immunoreactivity by Sephadex column and subsequent radioimmunoassay suggested that the T3 immunoreactivity was, to a considerable extent, due to macromolecule instead of T3 itself. The effect of I- or Li+ to inhibit thyroid hormone secretion was shown to be on the step prior to, but not subsequent to, colloid droplet formation.