Effects of trypan blue on thyroid secretion: localization of trypan blue within the colloid space and phagolysosomes of thyroid follicles.

Trypan blue was previously shown to directly inhibit thyroid secretion following TSH stimulation. Inhibition of both colloid droplet formation and thyroglobulin proteolysis was demonstrated. By observing the characteristic bright red fluorescence of the dye-protein complex, we have demonstrated that trypan blue rapidly enters the colloid space and combines with thyroglobulin. In addition, the dye in association with thyroglobulin has been demonstrated within phagosomes and phagolysosomes by centrifugation of the lysosomal (P15) fraction on both sucrose and Percoll density gradients. Lability or latency of the dye with the phagolysosomal contents was demonstrated and the dye was found in association with thyroglobulin by column chromatography. It is proposed that the complexing of trypan blue to thyroglobulin alters its attachment to specific follicular cell receptors, inhibits pinocytosis, and, thus, thyroid hormone secretion.