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Effects of hyper- and hypothyroidism on acetylcholinesterase, (Na+, K+)- and Mg 2+-ATPase activities of adult rat hypothalamus and cerebellum

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Abstract

Thyroid hormones (THs) are recognized as key metabolic hormones, and the metabolic rate increases in hyperthyroidism, while it decreases in hypothyroidism. The aim of this work was to investigate how changes in metabolism induced by THs could affect the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), (Na+, K+)- and Mg2+-ATPase in the hypothalamus and the cerebellum of adult rats. Hyperthyroidism was induced by subcutaneous administration of thyroxine (25μg/100 g body weight) once daily for 14 days, while hypothyroidism was induced by oral administration of propylthiouracil (0.05%) for 21 days. All enzyme activities were evaluated spectrophotometrically in the homogenated brain regions of 10 three-animal pools. Neither hyper-, nor hypothyroidism had any effect on the examined hypothalamic enzyme activities. In the cerebellum, hyperthyroidism provoked a significant decrease in both the AChE (−23%, p < 0.001) and the Na+, K+-ATPase activities (−26%, p < 0.001). Moreover, hypothyroidism had a similar effect on the examined enzyme activities: AChE (−17%, p < 0.001) and Na+, K+-ATPase (−27%, p < 0.001). Mg2+-ATPase activity was found unaltered in both the hyper- and the hypothyroid brain regions. In conclusion: neither hyper-, nor hypothyroidism had any effect on the examined hypothalamic enzyme activities. In the cerebellum, hyperthyroidism provoked a significant decrease in both the AChE and the Na+, K+-ATPase activities. The decreased (by the THs) Na+, K+-ATPase activities may increase the synaptic acetylcholine release, and thus, could result in a decrease in the cerebellar AChE activity. Moreover, the above TH-induced changes may affect the monoamine neurotransmitter systems.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the University of Athens and the University of Ioannina. Many thanks are expressed to the medical students Elena Gkrouzman, Zois Mellios and Christina Katsioni for their assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Haris Carageorgiou, Constantinos Pantos, Apostolos Zarros & Iordanis Mourouzis

  2. Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, University of Athens, P.O. Box 65257, GR-15401, Athens, Greece

    Apostolos Zarros & Stylianos Tsakiris

  3. Department of Biological Applications and Technology, Science and Technology School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Vasileios Stolakis

  4. Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, First Cardiology Department, Athens, Greece

    Dennis Cokkinos

Authors
  1. Haris Carageorgiou
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  2. Constantinos Pantos
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  3. Apostolos Zarros
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  4. Vasileios Stolakis
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  5. Iordanis Mourouzis
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  6. Dennis Cokkinos
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  7. Stylianos Tsakiris
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Correspondence to Stylianos Tsakiris.

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Carageorgiou, H., Pantos, C., Zarros, A. et al. Effects of hyper- and hypothyroidism on acetylcholinesterase, (Na+, K+)- and Mg 2+-ATPase activities of adult rat hypothalamus and cerebellum. Metab Brain Dis 22, 31–38 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-006-9034-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-006-9034-1

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