skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Biphasic stimulation of cellular calcium concentration by 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine in rat thymocytes

Journal Article · · Biochemistry; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bi00407a047· OSTI ID:5209009

3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine (T/sub 3/) produced a rapid and transient increase in /sup 45/Ca uptake and cytoplasmic free calcium concentration in rat thymocytes, which is the most rapid effect of T/sub 3/ in this system. This effect was manifested in cells suspended in medium containing 1 mM calcium. The T/sub 3/ effect on /sup 45/Ca uptake was evident at 15-30 s, reached maximum at 30-60 s, and returned to control values at 5 min. The T/sub 3/ effect on cytoplasmic free calcium concentration was seen after 30 s, reached maximum at 7 min, and returned to control values after 24 min. In cells suspended in Ca/sup 2 +/-free medium, T/sub 3/ produced a similar rapid increase in /sup 45/Ca uptake, which was sustained for at least 60 min, but T/sub 3/ failed to change cytoplasmic free calcium concentration. Alprenolol (10 ..mu..M) blocked the stimulatory effects of T/sub 3/ on these two functions in a similar fashion. From these results, the authors suggest that in rat thymocytes T/sub 3/ influences cellular calcium economy through a biphasic mechanism in which T/sub 3/ first increases calcium uptake which, in turn, if followed by a release of calcium from intracellular pool(s), resulting in a further increase in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration and the activation of Ca/sup 2 +/-regulated systems. Moreover, the present study provides further support for the postulate that in the rat thymocyte calcium serves as the first messenger for the plasma membrane-mediated stimulatory effects of T/sub 3/ on several metabolic functions.

Research Organization:
Harvard School, Boston, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5209009
Journal Information:
Biochemistry; (United States), Vol. 27:7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English