THYROID GLAND
DR. MEHAK NAZ
LECTURER
DEPT. OF PHYSIOLOGY
THYROID GLAND
Thyroid is an endocrine gland situated at the root of the
neck on either side of the trachea. It has two lobes,
which are connected in the middle by an isthmus
The thyroid gland consist of two types of cells:
FOLLICULAR CELLS:
Most abundant cells and the major secretory cells,
these produce Thyroid hormones (T3 & T4)
PARAFOLLICULAR CELLS OR C-CELLS:
These are fewer in numbers and secrete Calcitonin
THYROID HORMONES
The thyroid gland secrete three major hormones:
1. Thyroxine or T4 (90% of total secretion)
2. Triiodothyronine or T3 (9-10%)
3. Calcitonin (Imp hormone for calcium metabolism)
However T3 have much more biologic activity about (10X times
T4)
SYNTHESIS OF THYROID
HORMONES
Synthesis of thyroid hormones takes place by thyroglobulin, present
in follicular cavity. Iodine and tyrosine are essential for the
formation of thyroid hormones
The efficient synthesis of thyroid hormone requires about 1mg of
iodine per week. Indeed, iodine absorbed from the intestine travels
in the blood, bound mainly to serum albumin.
STAGES OF SYNTHESIS OF
THYROID HORMONES
1. Thyroglobulin synthesis
2. Iodide trapping
3. Oxidation of iodide
4. Transport of iodine into follicular cavity
5. Iodination of tyrosine
6. Coupling reactions.
Thyroglobulin Synthesis
Endoplasmic reticulum and
Golgi apparatus in the follicular
cells of thyroid gland
synthesize and secrete
thyroglobulin continuously.
Thyroglobulin molecule is a
large glycoprotein containing
140 molecules of amino acid
tyrosine.
Iodide Trapping
Iodide is transported into the follicular cell along with sodium by
sodium-iodide symport pump, which is also called iodide pump.
Oxidation of Iodide
Iodide must be oxidized to elementary iodine to be able to combine
with tyrosine
The oxidation of iodide into iodine occurs inside the follicular cells
in the presence of
thyroid peroxidase.
Transport of Iodine into
Follicular Cavity
From the follicular cells, iodine is transported into the follicular
cavity by an iodide-chloride pump called pendrin
Iodination of Tyrosine
Combination of iodine with tyrosine is known as iodination. It takes
place in thyroglobulin. Iodination process is accelerated by the
enzyme iodinase, which is secreted by follicular cells.
Iodination of tyrosine occurs in several stages.
“Tyrosine is iodized first into monoiodotyrosine (MIT) and
later into di-iodotyrosine (DIT). MIT and DIT are called
the iodotyrosine residues.”
Coupling Reactions
One molecule of DIT and one molecule of MIT combine to form tri-
iodothyronine (T3)
Two molecules of DIT combine to form tetraiodothyronine (T4),
which is thyroxine.
Synthe
sis of
thyroid
hormon
es
STORAGE OF THYROID
HORMONES
In combination with thyroglobulin, the thyroid hormones can be
stored for several months in the form of vesicles
RELEASE OF THYROID
HORMONES FROM THE
THYROID GLAND
Thyroglobulin itself is not released into the bloodstream.
The hormones are first cleaved from thyroglobulin and released into
the blood Only T3 and T4 are released into the blood. In the
peripheral tissues, T4 is converted into T3.
A small amount of inactive reverse T3 is also formed. It is the
biologically inactive form of T3 and it is produced when T4 is
converted into T3
TRANSPORT OF THYROID
HORMONES IN THE BLOOD
Thyroid hormones are transported in the blood by three types of
proteins:
1. Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) (1/3rd of hormones)
2. Thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) (1/4th of hormones)
3. Albumin (1/10th of hormones)
REGULATION
OF SECRETION
OF THYROID
HORMONES
FUNCTIONS OF THYROID
HORMONES
Thyroid hormones have two major effects on the body:
I. To increase basal metabolic rate
II. To stimulate growth in children.
The actions of thyroid hormones are:
1. Thyroxine increases the metabolic activities in most of the body
tissues, except brain, retina, spleen, testes and lungs.
2. Thyroid hormone increases the synthesis of proteins in the cells by
increasing transcription, translation, activity of mitochondria and cellular
enzymes
3. Increase overall carbohydrate metabolism (Enhances glycolysis,
gluconeogenesis)
4. Thyroxine decreases the fat storage by mobilizing it from adipose
tissues and fat depots.
5. Thyroxine decreases plasma cholesterol level by increasing its excretion
from liver
cells into bile.
6. Because thyroid hormone increases the quantities of many bodily
enzymes, thyroid hormone increases the need for vitamins.
7. Thyroid hormone increases the heat production in the body
8. Increase in thyroxine secretion accelerates the growth of the
body, especially in growing children.
9. Decrease in thyroxine secretion increases the body weight
because of fat deposition.
10. Thyroxine accelerates erythropoietic activity and increases
blood volume
11. Thyroxine increases the overall activity of cardiovascular
System by increasing heart rate, force of contraction, blood volume
and cardiac output.
12. Thyroxine causes vasodilatation by increasing the metabolic activities.
13. Thyroxine increases the rate and force of respiration indirectly.
14. Thyroxine increases the appetite and food intake. It also increases the
secretions and movements of GI tract.
15. Thyroxine is very essential for the development and maintenance of
normal functioning of central nervous system (CNS).
16. Thyroxine is essential for the normal activity of skeletal muscles.
17. Normal thyroxine level is necessary to maintain normal sleep pattern
18. Normal thyroxine level is essential for normal sexual function.
19. Because of its metabolic effects, thyroxine increases the
demand for secretion by other endocrine glands.
DISORDERS OF THYROID
GLAND
1. HYPERTHYROIDISM
Causes:
i. Graves’ disease
ii. Thyroid adenoma.
2. HYPOTHYROIDISM
Causes:
iii. Myxedema in adults
iv. Cretenism in children
GRAVE’S DISEASE:
It is an
autoimmune
disorder more
common in
women and in
people older
than 30.
MYXEDEMA
Common
cause of
myxedema is
the
autoimmune
disease called
Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis,
which is
common in
late middle-
aged women
CRETENISM
Cretinism is the
hypothyroidism in children,
characterized
by stunted growth.
Cretinism occurs due to
congenital absence of
thyroid
gland, genetic disorder or
lack of iodine in the diet.
GOITER
