Neuroendocrinology of Pyridoxine Deficiency

Veuruenducrim lri v j p .rim, deficienc:v. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV 12(3/4) 189-193. 1988.- Dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxvlase and 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxvlase respectively have high and low affinities for pyridoxal phosphate. In the pyridoxinedeficient animal. hypothalamic serotonin content is significantly reduced without any change in catecholamine levels. Hypothalamic neurotransmitters affect the hvpothalamo-pituitary-end organ axes. Specifically, the decrease in hypothalamic serotonin in the pyridoxine-deficient rat results in tertiary hypothyroidism. In addition. pineal function is affected in deficient animals due to decreased synthesis of melatonin.

Hypothyroidism of hypothalamic origin in pyridoxine-deficient rats

Pyridoxine-deficient young rats (3 weeks old) had significantly reduced levels of pituitary TSH, serum thyroxine (T4) and tri iodothyn nine (T,,) Compared with pyridoxine-supplemented rats. The status of the pituitary-thyroid axis of normal, pyridoxine-supplemented and pyridoxine-deficient rats was evaluated by studying the binding parameters of [3H](3-nicthylhistidine2) TRH in the pituitary of these rats. The effects of TRH and 1'4 injections on pituitary TSH and serum TSH, T4 and T3 of these two groups were also compared. The maximal binding of TRH receptors in the pituitary of pyridoxine-deficient rats was significantly higher than that of pyridoxine-supplemented control and normal rats, but there was no change in the binding affinity. Treatment with TRH stimulated TSH synthesis and release. It also increased serum T4 and T3 in both pyridoxine-supplemented and pyridoxine-deficient rats. Treatment with T4 decreased serum and pituitary TSH in both pyridoxine-supplemented and pyridoxine-deficient rats, compared with saline-treated rats. The increased pituitary TRH receptor content, response to TRH administration and the fact that regulation at the level of the pituitary is not affected in the pyridoxinedeficient rat indicates a hypothalamic origin for the hypothyroidism of the pyridoxine-deficient rat.

Thyroid function in pyridoxine-deficient young rats

In pyridopaminedoxine-deficient young rats hypothalamic serum TSH concentration was detected. Highly signifiserotonin was decreased with no changes in the cant decreases in the content of pituitary TSH and in and noradrenaline content. Serum the number of pituitary thyrotroph secretory granules and tri-iodothyronine concentrations were were found. These results suo mmuuchch lower in the deficient rats as compared to thyroidism of suggest that the hypocontrols. No significant of hypothalamicp yorirdigoxinin.e -deficient young rats might bbee difference between deficient and control groups in the