Endocrine Abstracts

Both action and metabolism of thyroid hormone are intracellular events which require the transport of iodothyronines across the plasma membrane. This does not occur by simple diffusion but is facilitated by transport proteins. During the last few years thyroid hormone transporters have been characterized at the molecular level. These include the Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), different members of the Na+-independent organic anion tran...

Deiodinase enzymes have an important role in thyroid hormone metabolism. Type I 5′-monodeiodinase (D1) converts thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3), while type III 5-monodeiodinase (D3) inactivates T3 and produces reverse-T3 (rT3) from T4. In fetal sheep, plasma T3 rises towards term in association with the prepartum cortisol surge. This study investigated the effect of cortisol on tissue de...