Toxicological Research

Korean Society of Toxicology & Korea Environmental Mutagen Society (한국독성학회)
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Assessment of In Vitro Assay System for Thyroid Hormone Disruptors Using Rat Pituitary GH3 Cells

  • Kim, Hee-Jin (Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University) ;
  • Park, Hae-Young (Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Jeong-A (Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kang, Il-Hyun (National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administration) ;
  • Kim, Tae-Sung (National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administration) ;
  • Han, Soon-Young (National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administration) ;
  • Kang, Tae-Seok (National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administration) ;
  • Park, Kui-Lea (National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administration) ;
  • Kim, Hyung-Sik (Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University)
  • Published : 2006.12.30
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Abstract

The development of in vitro assays has been recommended to screening and testing the potential endocrine disruptors (EDs). These assay systems focus only on identifying the estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity of EDs, whereas a few studies have been carried out to screen the thyroid hormone (TH) disruptors. The aim of this study was to evaluate a test system to detect TH disruptors using rat pituitary tumor $GH_3$ cells. The test system is based on the TH-dependent increase in growth rate. As expected, L-3,5,3-triiodothyronine ($(T_3)$ markedly induced a morphological change in $GH_3$ cells from flattened fibroblastic types to rounded or spindle-shaped types. $T_3$ stimulated $GH_3$ cell growth in a dose-dependent manner with the maximum growth-stimulating effect being observed at a concentration $1{\times}10^9M$. In addition, $T_3$ increased the release of growth hormone and prolactin into the medium of the $GH_3$ cells culture. Using this assay system, the TH-disrupting activities of bisphenol A (BPA) and its related compounds were examined. BPA, dimethy/bisphenol A (DMBPA), and TCI-EP significantly enhanced the growth of $GH_3$ cells in the range of $1{\times}10^{-5}M\;to\;1{\times}10^{-6}M$ concentrations. In conclusion, this in vitro assay system might be useful for identifying potential TH disruptors. However, this method will require further evaluation and standardization before it can be used as a broad-based screening tool.

Keywords

References

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