IODINATED PARTICLES IN THE RAT THYROID

In a previous study (Simon et al. 1971) a procedure for the preparation and separation of iodinated particles was described in the rat. The present paper deals with further investigations on the nature of these particles. Acid phosphatase and iodine are conjointly sedimentable and display a latency that is unmasked on dilution in a hypo-osmotic medium and under acidification to pH 5.0. These properties together with the sensitivity to Triton X-100 are best accounted for by assuming that iodinated particles of the thyroid gland are lysosomes. Part of the particulate iodine is soluble in n-butanol (BEI fraction). The existence of this BEI fraction demonstrates that hydrolysis of thyroglobulin occurs within the particles which thus exhibit an acid protease activity. Both the sedimentable iodine pool and acid phosphatase are increased under TSH stimulation and decreased after thyroxine treatment. In addition, the general activity of the iodinated particles is dependent on the daily iodine intake as shown by the variation of their iodine pool, acid phosphatase activity and BEI fraction with the iodine diet. It is concluded that iodinated particles of the thyroid gland are secondary lysosomes which participate in iodine secretion under TSH control. By in vitro treatment with destabilizing media or after in vivo treatment with thyroxine, iodinated particles exhibit a parallel loss of iodine and acid phosphatase. After a short-term TSH treatment in vivo, their iodine pool is more increased than their acid phosphatase activity. It is concluded that, at least in the normal rat thyroid, iodinated particles are essentially secondary lysosomes; true colloid droplets actually accumulate only after sufficient TSH stimulation.