l-Thyroxine is converted to 3,5,3′-l-triiodothyronine (T3) as well as to 3,3′,5′-l-triiodothyronine (reverse T3). One product of further deiodination is 3,3′-diiodothyronine (3,3′T2). The serum levels of reverse T3 and 3,3′T2 change considerably in various physiological and disease states. We previously found that reverse T3 and 3,3′T2 bind to the solubilized hepatic nuclear “receptors” for thyroid hormones. This led us to study binding and actions of these metabolites in cultured rat pituitary cells in which glucose consumption and growth hormone production are regulated by T3 and l-thyroxine.
Stathis S. Papavasiliou, Joseph A. Martial, Keith R. Latham, John D. Baxter
The Editorial Board will only consider comments that are deemed relevant and of interest to readers. The Journal will not post data that have not been subjected to peer review; or a comment that is essentially a reiteration of another comment.