Differential effects of D- and L-isomers of triiodothyronine on pituitary TSH secretion and peripheral deiodinase activity in the rat.

The effects of D- and L-T3 were compared in male SK & F Wistar rats to define overall effects on the 'pituitary-thyroid-liver axis' at high doses. After in vivo administration of L-T3 (up to 1 mg/kg orally, or up to 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously) serum TSH and T4 were decreased in a dose-related manner. Similarly, following in vivo exposure to L-T3, both basal and TRH-stimulated TSH output from isolated superfused pituitary glands was decreased, but only the latter was affected by direct in vitro exposure to L-T3.D-T3 had between 1% and 10% the activity of L-T3 in decreasing these parameters both in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, both enantiomers increased liver and kidney deiodinase activity to approximately the same extent, presumably as a compensatory response to clear hormone from the body. These observations indicate that, following treatment with L- or D-T3 by oral gavage for 14 days, the 'no effect' dose (i.e. the dose which did not significantly decrease serum TSH concentrations as compared with controls) for L-T3 was below 0.01 mg/kg whereas that for D-T3 was 0.1 mg/kg.