The Interrelationship Between the Harderian Glands and the Neuroendocrine-Thyroid Axis in Rodents

Buzzell, Gerald R.; Menéndez-Peláez, Armando

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-76685-5_16

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Nuclear receptors for triiodothyronine (T 3 ) have been observed in the HG of the golden hamster (Vilchis & Perez-Pelacios 1989). TH injections lead to an increase in porphyrin content in hamster HG, an effect that is reversed under conditions of TH deficiency (Hoffman et al 1989, Buzzell & Menendez-Pelaez 1992. More recently, we demonstrated that hypothyroidism provoked a reduction in lipid secretion as well as apoptosis and autophagic phenomena in rat HG , whereas T 3 administration induced an increase in lipid secretion, hypertrophy of the mitochondrial compartment and an increase in the expression of uncoupling protein 3 (Chieffi Baccari et al 2004, Santillo et al 2011b, which is a mitochondrial protein with a function that is related to lipid metabolism (Cioffi et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Triiodothyronine induces lipid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in rat Harderian gland

Santillo

Burrone

Falvo

et al. 2013

Journal of Endocrinology

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The rat Harderian gland (HG) is an orbital gland producing a copious lipid secretion. Recent studies indicate that its secretory activity is regulated by thyroid hormones. In this study, we found that both isoforms of the thyroid hormone receptor (Tra (Thra) and Trb (Thrb)) are expressed in rat HGs. Although Thra is expressed at a higher level, only Thrb is regulated by triiodothyronine (T 3 ). Because T 3 induces an increase in lipid metabolism in rat HGs, we investigated the effects of an animal's thyroid state on the expression levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A (Cpt1a) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1B (Cpt1b) and acyl-CoA oxidase (Acox1) (rate-limiting enzymes in mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation respectively), as well as on the mitochondrial compartment, thereby correlating mitochondrial activity and biogenesis with morphological analysis. We found that hypothyroidism decreased the expression of Cpt1b and Acox1 mRNA, whereas the administration of T 3 to hypothyroid rats increased transcript levels. Respiratory parameters and catalase protein levels provided further evidence that T 3 modulates mitochondrial and peroxisomal activities. Furthermore, in hypothyroid rat HGs, the mitochondrial number and their total area decreased with respect to the controls, whereas the average area of the individual mitochondrion did not change. However, the average area of the individual mitochondrion was reduced by w50% in hypothyroid T 3 -treated HGs, and the mitochondrial number and the total area of the mitochondrial compartment increased. The mitochondrial morphometric data correlated well with the molecular results. Indeed, hypothyroid status did not modify the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis genes such as Ppargc1a, Nrf1 and Tfam, whereas T 3 treatment increased the expression level of these genes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Triiodothyronine induces lipid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in rat Harderian gland

Santillo

Burrone

Falvo

et al. 2013

Journal of Endocrinology

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“…Furthermore, it is part of the retinal-pineal axis (Hoffman et al, 1985) as well as a source of either pheromones or growth factors (Seyama et al, 1992;Shanas and Terkel, 1996). In some mammals, the HG activity is influenced by endogenous factors (such as prolactin, thyroid hormones and steroid hormones) and exogenous factors (such as light and temperature) (Hoffman et al, 1989a;Buzzell and Menendez-Pelaez, 1992;Menendez-Pelaez et al, 1993;Buzzell et al, 1994). During the 1940s, the interrelationship between the thyroid gland and the HG was suggested by several researchers (Smelser, 1943;Boas and Bates, 1954;Boas and Scow, 1954) who used glandular mass as their main study end point.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological and biochemical changes in the Harderian gland of hypothyroid rats

Monteforte

Santillo

Lanni

et al. 2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe secretory activity of the Harderian gland (HG) is influenced by both exogenous (such as light and temperature) and endogenous (such as prolactin, thyroid hormones and steroid hormones) factors, which vary among species. In the present study, the effects of hypothyroidism on the rat HG were examined at morphological and biochemical levels. The decrease in cytoplasmic lipoproteic vacuoles and the increase in mucosubstance secretion in the acinar lumina were the most notable histological effects elicited by hypothyroidism. The release of all granules with nuclei and cellular debris suggested the occurrence of holocrine secretion. Electron microscopy revealed in the glandular cells of hypothyroid rat an increased condensation of chromatin in the nuclei, mitochondria with decreased cristae and vacuolisation, decreased glycogen granules, autophagic vacuoles, and lipofuscins in the cytoplasm. TUNEL reaction indicated DNA fragmentation in hypothyroid HG, indicative of an underlying apoptotic process. Translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol strongly supported this hypothesis. In conclusion, these findings indicate that thyroid hormones play a pivotal role in preserving the structural integrity of the rat HG and, hence, its secretory activity.

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“…Injections of thyroxine (T4) or triiodothyronine (T3) reduce the porphyrin content of female hamster Harderian glands and have a similar effect in castrated males, preventing the expected rise in porphyrin content (Hoffman et al, 1989(Hoffman et al, ,1990. The administration of antithyroid treatments such as methimazole and KC104 have produced conflicting effects between different studies, but, reviewing these, Buzzell and Menendez-Pelaez (1992) concluded that "both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid conditions tend to reduce porphyrin concentrations." Some studies have reported Harderian gland receptors for TSH, but the position for T3 and T4 receptors is unknown (see review by Buzzell & Menendez-Pelaez, 1992).…”

Section: Dopamine and Thyroid Hormone Releasementioning

confidence: 96%

“…The administration of antithyroid treatments such as methimazole and KC104 have produced conflicting effects between different studies, but, reviewing these, Buzzell and Menendez-Pelaez (1992) concluded that "both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid conditions tend to reduce porphyrin concentrations." Some studies have reported Harderian gland receptors for TSH, but the position for T3 and T4 receptors is unknown (see review by Buzzell & Menendez-Pelaez, 1992). Type II 5-deiodinase (5-D), an enzyme which is necessary for converting T4 to T3, is present in the Harderian glands of laboratory rats and hamsters (Delgad0 et al, 1988;Guerrero et al, 1987Guerrero et al, ,1989 but has not been identified in mice (Rubio et al, 1991).…”

Section: Dopamine and Thyroid Hormone Releasementioning

confidence: 96%

Hormones and the control of porphyrin biosynthesis and structure in the hamster Harderian gland

Payne

Shah

Marr

et al. 1996

Microsc. Res. Tech.

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The Interrelationship Between the Harderian Glands and the Neuroendocrine-Thyroid Axis in Rodents

Cited by 12 publications

References 64 publications

Triiodothyronine induces lipid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in rat Harderian gland

Triiodothyronine induces lipid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in rat Harderian gland

Morphological and biochemical changes in the Harderian gland of hypothyroid rats

Hormones and the control of porphyrin biosynthesis and structure in the hamster Harderian gland

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