Inhibition of goiter growth and of cyclic AMP formation in rat thyroid by 2-iodohexadecanal

IntroductionThyroid autoregulation has been related to intraglandular content of an unknown putative iodocompound. The thyroid is capable of producing different iodolipids such as 6-iodo-deltalactone (ILδ) and 2-iodohexadecanal (2-IHDA). Data from different laboratories have shown that these iodolipids inhibit several thyroid parameters. ILδ has an antigoitrogenic action but no data about the action of 2-IHDA on this parameter has been published.Objectivesto study the action of 2-IHDA on methimazole (MMI)-induced goiter and analyze if this compound can cause the involution of preformed goiter.ResultsAdministration of MMI to rats during 10 days increased thyroid weight by 112%. This effect was significantly inhibited by the simultaneous injection of 20 μg/day of 2-IHDA (51% vs. MMI) while iodine or non iodinated hexadecanal were without action. Thyroidal proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) content was increased by MMI while 2-IHDA decreased this value (control: 100%; MMI: 190 ± 11; MMI + 2-IHDA: 134 ± 10). Serum TSH was increased after MMI administration and 2-IHDA did not modify this parameter (control: 1.89 ± 0.10; MMI: 8.19 ± 0.93 ng/ml; MMI + 2-IHDA: 7.38 ± 0.72). Treatment with MMI increased thyroidal cAMP content (control: 16.1 ± 0.82, MMI: 42.4 ± 4.6 fmol/mg protein) while injection of 2-IHDA significantly decreased this value (22.3 ± 2.0). Goiter prevention by 2-IHDA was also observed at 30 days of treatment reducing total number of cells (51% inhibition) and epithelial height (81% inhibition).Goiter involution was induced after withdrawal of MMI and injection with 2-IHDA, KI or saline. 2-IHDA led to a reduction of 74.5% in thyroid weight after 3 days while spontaneous involution (saline) was only of 32%. KI failed to alter this value. This significant involution was accompanied by a reduction in the number of cells (66%).Administration of the iodolipids did not produce significant changes in several serum parameters such as total T3 and T4, cholesterol, transaminases, urea and creatinine.Conclusion2-Iodohexadecanal, as 6-iodo-deltalactone, prevents goiter growth in rats and opens a potential therapeutic application of iodolipids.