Functional properties of human thyroid follicles cultured within collagen gel.

Cultures of human thyroid follicles embedded in collagen gel were performed to investigate certain functional properties under bovine thyrotropin (TSH) stimulation. Follicles obtained from normal glands responded to increasing concentrations of TSH administered on day 4 in culture and for 3 days by increased amounts of cyclic AMP (cAMP), thyroglobulin (Tg) and triiodothyronine (T3) and by decreased levels of thyroxine (T4). Effect was maximal at 2000 microU/ml TSH (cAMP) or 200 microU/ml (Tg, T3, T4). When methimazole or propylthiouracil (PTU) were added, the T3 levels decreased. Follicle lumens contained a periodic acid-Schiff substance which was identified by immunoreaction as Tg. Thyroid follicles obtained from Graves' disease glands gave modified results with an earlier and intensified T3 response and no increase in Tg. These data show that (1) Tg and T3 are secretory products of functional follicles giving a cAMP-mediated response to TSH. (2) The detected T3 also derives from T4 5'-deiodination inhibited by PTU. (3) Intensified T3 response in Graves' follicles is probably due to enhanced conversion of T4 to T3.