The Influence of Thyroid Hormone Status on the Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal Growth Hormone Axis

Growth hormone (GH) synthesis is known to be impaired by either abnormally high or low levels of thyroid hormone. To determine the effects of these conditions on the central regulation of GH secretion, we have examined their effects on the hypothalamic regulatory peptides GH-releasing hormone (GH-RH) and somatostatin (SRIF). In thyroidectomized rat hypothalamus, a dramatic increase in GH-RH mRNA occurred in parallel with a decrease in peptide content. The significance of this phenomenon is uncertain and might possibly reflect some posttranscriptional derangement of GH-RH synthesis or an increased rate of GH-RH synthesis and release. In the hyperthyroid group, GH-RH showed significant decreases in both peptide and mRNA levels that might possibly reflect a decrease in GH-RH synthesis and secretion. No change was observed in SRIF peptide or mRNA levels in either thyroidectomized or T4-treated animals. As expected, GH mRNA levels in the anterior pituitary were dramatically decreased by thyroidectomy and unaff...