Thyroid hormone effects on beta-adrenergic receptors in isolated fat cells in rats

The effect of thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine) on catecholamine receptors in isolated rat fat cells was investigated. Binding of (3H)isoproterenol and (3H)norepinephrine were increased by thyroid hormones. (3H)isoproterenol binding was more enhanced than (3H)norepinephrine binding. Triiodothyronine had a more potent effect than thyroxine. (3H)isoproterenol was used to estimate the number or affinity of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat fat cells treated with thyroid hormones. The binding sites for (3H)isoproterenol were the same in untreated and with triiodothyronine treated fat cells. The equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) for the interaction of receptors with (3H)isoproterenol were altered in thyroid hormone treated cells. There was a significant difference between the untreated and triiodothyronine treated fat cells in the affinity of beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites for (3H)isoproterenol. Thyroid hormone could alter negative cooperative site-to-site interaction among the binding sites for (3H)isoproterenol.