Biomaterial Database

Perinatal ontogeny of porcine growth hormone receptor gene expression is modulated by thyroid status. 1996

C Duchamp, and K A Burton, and P Herpin, and M J Dauncey

Department of Cellular Physiology, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.

The ontogeny of growth hormone receptors (GHR) represents a critical stage in growth and metabolism. We have investigated the perinatal ontogeny of hepatic and skeletal muscle GHR gene expression in piglets, and its modulation by GH and thyroid hormones. Test piglets were rendered hypothyroid in late gestation by feeding the sow a high-glucosinolate rapeseed meal. Plasma and tissue samples were obtained from test and control piglets at various ages between 80 days of fetal life (80F) and 2 days postnatally. Plasma hormone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay and GHR mRNA by RNase protection assays. In controls, plasma thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) levels increased between 80F and birth and the early postnatal period was characterized by a marked surge in plasma T3. Test piglets were hypothyroid at 110F with total T4, total T3 and free T3 levels being reduced by 28, 53 and 33% respectively. By contrast, the postnatal increase in T3 was more marked in test than in control animals. Plasma GH levels decreased over the perinatal period and there was no effect of treatment. Hepatic GHR mRNA was at the lower limit of detection at 80F but by 110F was expressed in both groups of animals. However, fetal hypothyroidism at 110F resulted in a marked 70% decrease in hepatic GHR mRNA (p < 0.01). The higher postnatal rise in T3 in test piglets was accompanied by a recovery of hepatic GHR mRNA levels. By contrast with liver, skeletal muscle (longissimus dorsi) expressed high levels of GHR mRNA at 80F and hypothyroidism induced a 68% increase in GHR mRNA (p < 0.001). The present results suggest that thyroid hormones may modulate the perinatal ontogeny of GHR gene expression, in addition to other hormonal factors, and that this modulation is tissue-specific.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D011986	Receptors, Somatotropin	Cell surface proteins that bind GROWTH HORMONE with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Activation of growth hormone receptors regulates amino acid transport through cell membranes, RNA translation to protein, DNA transcription, and protein and amino acid catabolism in many cell types. Many of these effects are mediated indirectly through stimulation of the release of somatomedins.	Growth Hormone Receptors,Receptors, Growth Hormone,Somatomammotropin Receptors,Somatotropin Receptors,Growth Hormone Receptor,Receptor, Growth Hormone,Receptors, Somatomammotropin,Somatomammotropin Receptor,Somatotropin Receptor,Hormone Receptor, Growth,Hormone Receptors, Growth
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals
D012313	RNA	A polynucleotide consisting essentially of chains with a repeating backbone of phosphate and ribose units to which nitrogenous bases are attached. RNA is unique among biological macromolecules in that it can encode genetic information, serve as an abundant structural component of cells, and also possesses catalytic activity. (Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed)	RNA, Non-Polyadenylated,Ribonucleic Acid,Gene Products, RNA,Non-Polyadenylated RNA,Acid, Ribonucleic,Non Polyadenylated RNA,RNA Gene Products,RNA, Non Polyadenylated
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D013006	Growth Hormone	A polypeptide that is secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, stimulates mitosis, cell differentiation and cell growth. Species-specific growth hormones have been synthesized.	Growth Hormone, Recombinant,Pituitary Growth Hormone,Recombinant Growth Hormone,Somatotropin,Somatotropin, Recombinant,Growth Hormone, Pituitary,Growth Hormones Pituitary, Recombinant,Pituitary Growth Hormones, Recombinant,Recombinant Growth Hormones,Recombinant Pituitary Growth Hormones,Recombinant Somatotropins,Somatotropins, Recombinant,Growth Hormones, Recombinant,Recombinant Somatotropin
D013552	Swine	Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA).	Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D013961	Thyroid Gland	A highly vascularized endocrine gland consisting of two lobes joined by a thin band of tissue with one lobe on each side of the TRACHEA. It secretes THYROID HORMONES from the follicular cells and CALCITONIN from the parafollicular cells thereby regulating METABOLISM and CALCIUM level in blood, respectively.	Thyroid,Gland, Thyroid,Glands, Thyroid,Thyroid Glands,Thyroids