Effect of triiodothyronine and GC-1, a thyroid hormone receptor b-selective thyromimetic, on histomorphometric and biomechanical parameters of bone tissue of adult rodents.

Author(s)

Cristiane Cabral Costa

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2008-11-03

Examining board members

Cecilia Helena de Azevedo Gouveia Ferreira; Sílvia de Campos Boldrini; Keico Okino Nonaka

• Advisor: Cecilia Helena de Azevedo Gouveia Ferreira

Abstract

Adult rats were treated with 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40x the physiological dose of triiodothyronine (T3) for 10 weeks. There was a dose-dependent reduction in bone mass, trabecular volume and thickness (Tb.Th), and cortical thickness. Up to 10xT3, there was an increase in the bone formation rate (BFR). Higher doses of T3 decreased BFR and bone resorption. These data show that, up to a certain degree of thyrotoxicosis, osteopenia is the result of an increase in bone formation and resorption, with a prevalence of resorption. In more severe thyrotoxicosis, the osteopenia is caused by a reduction in bone remodeling, with a predominance of bone resorption. Then, we compared the effects of T3 and GC-1, a thyromimetic that is selective for T3 receptor b (TRb), on bone of adult female mice. T3 treatment decreased tibial resistance, stiffness and resilience, while GC-1 increase these parameters and Tb.Th, showing that GC-1 improves bone quality. Considering the selectiveness of GC-1 for TRb, these findings suggest that TRb mediates mainly positive actions of T3 in the bone. (AU)