BETA-GALACTOSIDE ALPHA-2,3-SIALYLTRANSFERASE MESSENGER-RNA INCREASES IN THYROTROPHS OF HYPOTHYROID MICE

Our goal was to learn about the cellular mechanism(s) responsible for the increased sialylation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) during hypothyroidism, We used irt situ hybridization to examine the beta-gal actoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase mRNA content in thyrotrophs and c orticotrophs of euthyroid and hypothyroid [propylthiouracil (PTU)-trea ted] mice, The alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase mRNA level was 66, 70, 296, and 223% higher in hypothyroid thyrotrophs than in euthyroid thyrotro phs after mice received PTU for 1, 2, 3, and 6 weeks, respectively, In creased transcription of this gene, or mRNA stabilization, may partial ly explain the increased sialylation of TSH during hypothyroidism.