Control of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat lymphoid organs by thyroid hormones.

This study examined the effect of experimental hyper- and hypothyroidism on the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities of rat lymphoid organs (mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and thymus) and muscles (soleus and gastrocnemius-white portion) for comparison. The capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents was also investigated: activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (pentose-phosphate pathway) and citrate synthase (Krebs cycle). Hyperthyroidism tended to enhance lipid peroxide content in all tissues. This effect may result from (1) a high capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents in cytosol and mitochondria and (2) a reduced activity of catalase in the lymphoid organs and of glutathione peroxidase in the muscles. The process of lipid peroxidation in these tissues caused by hyperthyroidism was probably slowed down by the augmentation of CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activities observed under this condition. Hypothyroidism tended to diminish lipid peroxidation and did not affect citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the lymphoid organs and muscles. Low levels of thyroid hormones tended to diminish Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase activities. These findings show that the thyroid hormones might be able to regulate the activities of CuZn- and Mn-SOD, and catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the lymphoid organs and skeletal muscles.