Hypothyroidism of hypothalamic origin in pyridoxine-deficient rats.

Pyridoxine-deficient young rats (3 weeks old) had significantly reduced levels of pituitary TSH, serum thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) compared with pyridoxine-supplemented rats. The status of the pituitary-thyroid axis of normal, pyridoxine-supplemented and pyridoxine-deficient rats was evaluated by studying the binding parameters of [3H](3-methyl-histidine2)TRH in the pituitary of these rats. The effects of TRH and T4 injections on pituitary TSH and serum TSH, T4 and T3 of these two groups were also compared. The maximal binding of TRH receptors in the pituitary of pyridoxine-deficient rats was significantly higher than that of pyridoxine-supplemented control and normal rats, but there was no change in the binding affinity. Treatment with TRH stimulated TSH synthesis and release. It also increased serum T4 and T3 in both pyridoxine-supplemented and pyridoxine-deficient rats. Treatment with T4 decreased serum and pituitary TSH in both pyridoxine-supplemented and pyridoxine-deficient rats, compared with saline-treated rats. The increased pituitary TRH receptor content, response to TRH administration and the fact that regulation at the level of the pituitary is not affected in the pyridoxine-deficient rat indicates a hypothalamic origin for the hypothyroidism of the pyridoxine-deficient rat.