Endocrine Abstracts

Thyrotoxicosis is characterised by increased osteoclast activity. Thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRα) is the predominant TR-isoform in bone and mice lacking TRα have skeletal hypothyroidism with impaired osteoclastic bone resorption. By contrast, mice lacking TRβ have skeletal hyperthyroidism and increased bone resorption. Thus, we hypothesized that T3 acts via TRα to stimulate osteoclastogenesis. Osteoclasts were differentiated in vitro ...

Hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis have detrimental effects on skeletal development and adult bone strength. These effects result from thyroid hormone actions in bone, although a direct role for TSH in osteoblasts and osteoclasts was postulated following analysis of TSH receptor (TSHR) null mice. This hypothesis remains controversial as other studies failed to demonstrate osteoblast or osteoclast responses to TSH in vitro. Thyrostimulin is a heterodimeric glycoprotein ho...