Structural and functional maturation of rat gastrointestinal barrier with thyroxine

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Am. J. Physiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6801477

Israel, E J; Pang, K Y; Harmatz, P R; Walker, W A

It has been noted that the closure of the intestinal barrier to immunoglobulins is a normal maturational process in the rat. It has also been noted that the microvillus membrane (MVM) of newborn animals differs from adult MVM. The purpose of this study is to document whether thyroid hormone can induce closure in vivo in the rat and to relate this effect of thyroxine to the structural and functional maturation of the intestinal MVM. To assess closure, 2-wk-old rats were fed in rat immunoglobulin G (IgG), and serum antibody binding activity was measured 4 h later. The antibody binding activity of treated animals (T) was 1.5-2 times less than that of controls (C), indicating that thyroxine stimulates closure. The MVM similarly showed signs of maturation. Structural maturation was demonstrated by the lower fluidity of the thyroid-treated animals' membranes. Under the influence of thyroxine, the number of receptors on the MVM for IgG had decreased, while the K/sub a/ remained the same, demonstrating the functional maturation of the MVM. In conclusion, thryoid hormone can induce both structural and functional maturation of the intestinal MVM and can enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier by decreasing the penetration of antibodies.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6801477
• Journal Information: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 252:6; ISSN AJPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
ENZYME ACTIVITY
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GLOBULINS
HORMONES
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
IMMUNOLOGY
IN VIVO
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 125
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MAMMALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MEMBRANES
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC IODINE COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PHYSIOLOGY
PROTEINS
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RECEPTORS
RESONANCE
RODENTS
THYROID HORMONES
THYROXINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES