Evidence for co-ordinated changes between vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide synthase III immunoreactivity, the functional status of the thyroid follicles, and the microvascular bed during chronic stimulation by low iodine and propylthiouracyl in old mice

Vasoactive and angiogenic factors are involved in the autocrine/paracrine thyroid regulation of microvascular bed during goiter development. In the thyroid of old mice, the presence of slowly functioning ('cold') follicles allowed us to study the microvascular regulation of each follicle i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of endocrinology 2000-06, Vol.142 (6), p.651-660
Main Authors: GERARD, A.-C, XHENSEVAL, V, COLIN, I. M, MANY, M.-C, DENEF, J.-F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging - physiology
Animals
Antithyroid Agents - pharmacology
Biological and medical sciences
Capillaries - pathology
Cell Division
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Endocrinopathies
Endothelial Growth Factors - metabolism
Immunohistochemistry
Iodine - administration & dosage
Iodine - pharmacology
Lymphokines - metabolism
Medical sciences
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Inbred ICR
Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms
Organ Size
Propylthiouracil - pharmacology
Reference Values
Thyroid Gland - blood supply
Thyroid Gland - pathology
Thyroid Gland - physiopathology
Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases)
Time Factors
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Summary:Vasoactive and angiogenic factors are involved in the autocrine/paracrine thyroid regulation of microvascular bed during goiter development. In the thyroid of old mice, the presence of slowly functioning ('cold') follicles allowed us to study the microvascular regulation of each follicle in correlation with the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide synthase III (NOSIII). Mice aged 20 months did or did not receive a goitrogenic treatment (low iodine diet and propylthiouracyl), and their thyroids were processed for light and electron microscopy, and for autoradiography. The relative volumes (Vv) of the capillaries, the number of vessels per follicular area, the mean capillary area and the number of [(3)H]thymidine labeled nuclei were measured separately for 'hot' and 'cold' follicles. Already in control mice, the capillary bed surrounding 'hot' follicles was significantly larger than that seen around 'cold' follicles, because of larger diameters and twice the number of capillaries. This difference persisted whatever the length of the stimulatory treatment. During this treatment, the Vv of the capillaries increased to a larger extent around 'hot' follicles than around 'cold' ones. All vascular changes around 'cold' follicles were less extended and the increase in the capillary diameter was delayed. In control mice, the 'cold' follicles were negative for NOSIII and positive for VEGF while 'hot' follicles were positive for both. During stimulation, all follicles became progressively NOSIII positive. These data support the concept of 'angio-follicular units' in the thyroid and demonstrate their differential regulation in chronic stimulation during which local secretion of VEGF and NO is clearly involved.
ISSN:0804-4643
1479-683X
DOI:10.1530/eje.0.1420651