Relation of triiodothyronine and reverse triiodothyronine administration in rats to hepatic L-triiodothyronine aminotransferase activity

The effects of administration of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) to normal and to hypothyroid male rats upon the hepatic activity of L-triiodothyronine aminotransferase were determined using 3,5-dinitro-L-tyrosine as substrate in the assay. Initial studies in normal rats demonstrated that basal Enzyme activity was highest in liver and kidney of the organs tested, and that virtually no activity was detectable in skeletal muscle, serum, thyroid or pituitary gland. Hepatic Enzyme activity increased from birth to a peak at 80-120 days and declined thereafter. Daily administration of T3 to normal rats in doses of 5 mug/100g BW for 8 days significantly elevated hepatic Enzyme activity above normal. In daily doses of 2.5mug/100g BW, T3 restored the depressed Enzyme activities in hypothyroid rats to normal. Daily administration of 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (reverse T3) to normal rats in doses of 17.5 mug/100g BW and greater for 3 days increased L-T3 aminotransferase activity more than 30% above normal levels. Reverse T3 appeared to be approximately as active as T3 in increasing the hepatic activity of L-T3 aminotransferase.