In the present paper we describe changes of anatomical parameters in inbred Lewis strain rats, namely their body weight, body weight gain per week, absolute and relative heart, thyroid gland and skeletal muscle weights, that are assumed to reflect experimentally altered thyroid status. The hyperthyroid state was induced by DL-thyroxine or Na 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine, while methimazole was employed for inducing hypothyroidism. We have found that when compared to euthyroid rats, hypothyroidism resulted in a significantly lower body weight gain, absolute and relative heart weight and, in contrast, in a significant increase of absolute and relative thyroid gland weight. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism led to a significant increase of absolute and relative heart weight and to a significant reduction of absolute and relative thyroid gland weight. However, the body mass was not significantly altered in hyperthyroidism as compared with euthyroid rats. We conclude that our protocol leads to chronic hyper- or hypothyroidism as demonstrated by body, heart and thyroid gland weight changes. These anatomical data can thus be utilized as supplemental criteria for the assessment of the thyroid state of experimental rats., T. Soukup, G. Zachařová, V. Smerdu, I. Jirmanová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Muscle phenotype is determined by combined effects of intrinsic genetic and extrinsic factors like innervation, hormonal levels and mechanical factors or muscle activity. We have been studying the effect of altered thyroid hormone levels on the expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in control and regenerating soleus and extensor
digitorum longus muscles of euthyroid, hypothyroid or hyperthyroid female inbred Lewis rats. The fiber type composition has been determined according to the mATPase activity and immunocytochemical staining of MyHC isoforms, the content of MyHC isoforms has been determined by SDS-PAGE, the mRNA levels have been measured by RT-PCR and the ultrastructural transformation has been analyzed by electron-microscopy. Our results indicate that although the innervation plays a decisive role in the determination of muscle phenotype, levels of thyroid hormones contribute to the extent of muscle phenotype transformation.
Expression of the muscle phenotype is the result of interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic factors, the latter including innervation, mechanical influences and hormonal signals. This minireview summarizes some of the current knowledge regarding the regulation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform transitions during muscle development and regeneration. It describes the role of genetic factors, neural and mechanical influences and it focuses on the contribution of thyroid hormones to the differentiation of muscle fiber phenotypes as shown by the regulation of the expression of MHC isoforms and development of myofibrillar ATPase activity. Finally, it shortly summarizes results regarding the differentiation of MHC isoforms in regenerated muscle fibers of the graft after heterochronous isotransplantation in rats with different thyroid status., T. Soukup, I. Jirmanová., and Obsahuje bibliografii