An enzymatic defect in the obese (ob/ob) mouse: loss of thyroid-induced sodium- and potassium-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase.

Genetically obese (ob/ob) mice, mice that became obese after treatment with gold thioglucose, and lean animals were studied in the euthyroid state, after induction of hypothyroidism, and after treatment with triiodothyronine. The activity of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (sn-glycerol-3-phosphate:(acceptor) oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.99.5] was reduced in the livers from hypothyroid animals and was increased by treatment with triiodothyronine in all groups. The activity of the ouabain-suppressible sodium- and potassium-dependent ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase; EC 3.6.1.3) was increased by triiodothyronine and reduced by hypothyroidism in the lean and gold thioglucose-treated obese animals. In the obese (ob/ob) mice, on the other hand, treatment with triiodothyronine did not increase the activity of this enzyme, which remained at the level found in hypothyroid animals. This enzymatic activity was reduced in both liver and kidney. Adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing); EC 4.6.1.1] activity in liver membranes, however, was similar in all three groups of mice. This enzyme complex was activated by glucagon and was unaffected by treatment with thyroid hormones. The lack of a thyroid-dependent ouabain-suppressible (Na(+) + K(+))-ATPase in the tissues of the obese (ob/ob) mouse could explain most, if not all, of the abnormalities that have been described in this animal.