propylthiouracil and Weight-Gain

A hypothesis was tested that providing the breeder hens with exogenous thyroxine (T(4)) would help their offspring to better survive the ascites-inducing condition during the growing period. In total, 132 broiler breeder hens were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatments: control (CON), hypothyroid [HYPO; 6-N-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-treated], and hyperthyroid (HYPER; T(4)-treated). The hens were artificially inseminated, and the hatching eggs (n = 1,320) were incubated. No eggs in the HYPO group hatched. The 1-d-old male chicks (n = 288) from other groups were reared for 42 d under standard or low ambient temperature to induce ascites. Blood samples were drawn from the hens, embryos, and broilers for determination of T(4) and triiodothyronine (T(3)). The hematocrit was also determined in broilers. The PTU-treated hens had an increased BW along with lower plasma T(3) and T(4) concentrations. Plasma T(4) was higher in the HYPER hens compared with CON hens, but T(3) concentration was not different between these groups. The fertility rate was not affected by either hypo- or hyperthyroidism. The embryos in the HYPO group had lower plasma T(3) and T(4) concentrations at d 18 of embryonic development and internal pipping. Higher plasma T(4) was recorded in the HYPER birds at internal pipping, although plasma T(3) concentration was not affected at this stage. Maternal hyperthyroidism decreased the overall incidence of ascites in the cold-exposed chickens (10.0 vs. 33.4% for HYPER and CON groups, respectively). Although the effect of maternal PTU or T(4) treatment on plasma thyroid hormones and on the right ventricle-to-total ventricular weight ratio in the broilers was not significant, the cold-exposed healthy CON chicks showed higher hematocrit values, compared with the HYPER birds. It was concluded that maternal hyperthyroidism could decrease the incidence of cold-induced ascites in broiler chickens; however, probable causal mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Topics: Animals; Ascites; Chickens; Cold Temperature; Female; Hyperthyroidism; Hypothyroidism; Male; Poultry Diseases; Propylthiouracil; Thyroxine; Weight Gain

The separate and combined effects of Synovex-S (SYN) ear implants and thyroxine (T4)-5'-monodeiodinase inhibition (Trial 1) and T3 injection to create a mild elevation in circulating T3 concentrations (Trial 2) on BW gain and composition of gain were studied. Trial 1 used 24, 285-kg Angus steers in two experimental phases. Low-level feeding of propylthiouracil (PTU, 1.5 mg/kg BW daily) was used to achieve inhibition of T4-5'-monodeiodinase activity (TMA). Twelve steers received neither treatment (control) and 12 received SYN+PTU (hypothesized to maximize weight gain) from 0 to 56 d (phase 1) in a single factor treatment comparison. Subsequently, PTU was fed to six control steers and not fed to six of the original SYN+PTU steers from 56 to 175 d (phase 2) in a 2 x 2 arrangement of treatments. Trial 2 used 24, 302-kg Angus-Hereford steers. Treatments were without or with SYN and without or with sc injections of T3 in polyethylene glycol (2 micrograms/kg BW every 48 hr) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. In both trials, all steers were individually fed a diet of a corn-based concentrate and silage mixture at an equal metabolizable energy intakes per unit of metabolic body weight (.25 Mcal/kg BW.75). Measurements of daily dry matter intakes, weekly BW, 28-d estimates of empty body components (measured by urea dilution), final TMA (trial 1) and plasma thyroid hormone concentrations were obtained. In both trials, SYN increased BW gain and protein accretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Body Composition; Cattle; Drug Combinations; Drug Implants; Estradiol; Male; Progesterone; Propylthiouracil; Thyroid Gland; Triiodothyronine; Weight Gain

We studied the efficacy of amiodarone (800, 600, 400 and 200 mg orally daily during weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively) plus propylthiouracil (PTU, 100 mg orally every 8 h) in comparison to PTU alone in the early treatment (28 days) of Graves' disease patients. Circulating T3 and T4 decreased earlier and more markedly in the amiodarone plus PTU-treated group. An initial rise of circulating rT3 above the base-line value followed by a gradual decline was observed in the former group while only a decline below the base-line values was observed in the latter group. The resting pulse rate decreased and body weight increased significantly in the amiodarone plus PTU-treated group. In the PTU-treated group, significant weight gain was observed later in the course of treatment while no significant reduction in pulse rate was observed. No major side-effects of amiodarone were observed during the course of treatment. This study suggested that the combination of amiodarone and PTU was more efficacious than PTU alone in reducing circulating T3, T4 and clinical hyperthyroidism early in the course of treatment of patients with Graves' disease. This regimen has an additional potential advantage because of the antiarrhythmic property of amiodarone, especially in situations when a beta-blocker is contraindicated.

Topics: Adult; Amiodarone; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Graves Disease; Hemodynamics; Humans; Middle Aged; Propylthiouracil; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine; Weight Gain

Common bean has the potential to improve gut microbiota function due to its chemical composition and content of dietary fiber. This study evaluated the effect of cooked common bean (CCB) flour and its protein hydrolysate as part of a high-fat diet (HFD) added with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (10 mg/kg/d), an inhibitor of thyroid hormone synthesis, on gut health of BALB/c mice. Forty-eight adult mice were divided into four groups: normal control; HFD; HFD plus CCB flour (346.6 g/kg of diet) (HFBF group) and HFD plus CCB protein hydrolysate (700 mg/Kg/d) (HFPH group). HFBF, but not HFPH, increased cecum weight, and the moisture, and lipids in the excreted feces, compared to control groups. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the cecal microbiota indicated changes in the beta-diversity between the HFBF and HFPH groups, compared to the normal control. The abundance of Bacteroidetes increased and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio decreased in the HFBF compared to control groups. However, HFPH was not able to prevent the damage caused by a HFD to the gut bacterial communities. The OTUs enriched by HFBF were mainly assigned to members of the Muribaculaceae family, which shows potential to improve gut health. The intake of CCB flour improved intestinal health and modulated the composition and function of the cecal microbiota, attenuating the effects of the HFD, added wit 6-propyl-2-thiouracil, when fed to BALB/c mice.

Topics: Animals; Diet, High-Fat; Flour; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Phaseolus; Propylthiouracil; Protein Hydrolysates; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Weight Gain

Obesity leads to multiple health problems, including diabetes, fatty liver, and even cancer. Here, we report that urolithin A (UA), a gut-microflora-derived metabolite of pomegranate ellagitannins (ETs), prevents diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunctions in mice without causing adverse effects. UA treatment increases energy expenditure (EE) by enhancing thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and inducing browning of white adipose tissue (WAT). Mechanistically, UA-mediated increased thermogenesis is caused by an elevation of triiodothyronine (T3) levels in BAT and inguinal fat depots. This is also confirmed in UA-treated white and brown adipocytes. Consistent with this mechanism, UA loses its beneficial effects on activation of BAT, browning of white fat, body weight control, and glucose homeostasis when thyroid hormone (TH) production is blocked by its inhibitor, propylthiouracil (PTU). Conversely, administration of exogenous tetraiodothyronine (T4) to PTU-treated mice restores UA-induced activation of BAT and browning of white fat and its preventive role on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced weight gain. Together, these results suggest that UA is a potent antiobesity agent with potential for human clinical applications.

Topics: Adipocytes, Brown; Adipocytes, White; Adipose Tissue, Brown; Adipose Tissue, White; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Coumarins; Diet, High-Fat; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Liver; Glucose Intolerance; Insulin Resistance; Maillard Reaction; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Obese; Obesity; Propylthiouracil; Thermogenesis; Triiodothyronine; Weight Gain

The serum metabolomic profile and its relationship to physiological changes during hyperthyroidism and restoration to euthyroidism are not known. This study aimed to examine the physiological, adipokine, and metabolomic changes that occur when subjects with Graves' disease transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism with medical treatment.. Chinese women between 21 and 50 years of age and with newly diagnosed Graves' disease attending the endocrine outpatient clinics in a single institution were recruited between July 2012 and September 2014. All subjects were treated with thioamides to achieve euthyroidism. Clinical parameters (body weight, body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis, resting energy expenditure and respiratory quotient via indirect calorimetry, and reported total energy intake via 24 h food diary), biochemical parameters (thyroid hormones, lipid profile, fasting insulin and glucose levels), serum leptin, adiponectin, and metabolomics profiles were measured during hyperthyroidism and repeated in early euthyroidism.. Twenty four Chinese women with an average age of 36.3 ± 8.6 years were included in the study. The average duration of treatment that was required to reach euthyroidism for these subjects was 38 ± 16.3 weeks. There was a significant increase in body weight (52.6 ± 9.0 kg to 55.3 ± 9.4 kg; p < 0.001) and fat mass (14.3 ± 6.9 kg to 16.8 ± 6.5 kg; p = 0.005). There was a reduction in resting energy expenditure corrected for weight (28.7 ± 4.0 kcal/kg to 21.5 ± 4.1 kcal/kg; p < 0.001) and an increase in respiratory quotient (0.76 to 0.81; p = 0.037). Resting energy expenditure increased significantly with increasing free triiodothyronine levels (p = 0.007). Significant increases in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were noted. There was no significant change in leptin levels, but adiponectin levels increased significantly (p = 0.018). Significant reductions in fasting C2, medium-chain, long-chain, and total acylcarnitines were observed, but no changes in the fat-free mass, branched chain amino acid levels, or insulin sensitivity during recovery from hyperthyroidism were noted.. Serum metabolomics profile changes complemented the physiological changes observed during the transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism. This study provides a comprehensive and integrated view of the changes in fuel metabolism and energy balance that occur following the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adult; Antithyroid Agents; Asian People; Basal Metabolism; Biomarkers; Carbimazole; China; Energy Intake; Energy Metabolism; Female; Graves Disease; Hospitals, Urban; Humans; Hyperthyroidism; Metabolomics; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Propylthiouracil; Thyroid Gland; Weight Gain; Young Adult

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Administration, Oral; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Eating; Female; Fertility; Fetal Development; Gestational Age; Male; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Propylthiouracil; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reproduction; Risk Assessment; Tablets; Time Factors; Toxicity Tests, Chronic; Weight Gain

Thyroid hormones (THs) are essential for growth and development of the kidney. Also TH influences glomerular filtration and tubular functions. Hypothyroidism negative influences kidney function indirectly by affecting the cardiovascular system and the renal blood flow, and directly by affecting glomerular filtration, tubular functions and the structure of the kidney. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in biochemical markers, oxidative stress parameter and histological changes in kidney of hypothyroid rats before and after treatment with folic acid. Hypothyroidism was induced for 6 weeks by the administration of propylthiouracil in drinking water. Urea and creatinine were measured to evaluate the changes in kidney function. Also malondialdehyde, nitrite, nitrate and other oxidative stress parameter were measured in serum and kidney tissue as indicators of oxidative damage. Kidney function and oxidative stress parameters in hypothyroid rats were significantly changed compared to those in control rats. Treatment with folic acid helps in improving the adverse effect of hypothyroidism; the histological study also confirms this finding.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antioxidants; Creatinine; Folic Acid; Hypothyroidism; Kidney; Male; Oxidative Stress; Propylthiouracil; Rats; Triiodothyronine; Urea; Weight Gain

Little information is available about changes in body weight and body mass index in children before, during, and after treatment for Graves' disease (GD).. Our objective was to examine changes in body weight after treatment for GD in children as related to clinical features.. The medical records of 43 pediatric patients with GD [35 girls and eight boys, aged 4.0-18.5 (mean 10.9) yr] were examined. Patients were included if clinical data were available for 1 yr before and after the diagnosis of GD.. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI) z-scores, and thyroid hormone levels were assessed.. Overall, patients presented with an average BMI z-score of -0.02 ± 1.05 that was not different from the normal population (P = 0.921) or their premorbid values (P = 0.07). However, in the subset of patients who were initially overweight or obese in the premorbid state, the BMI decreased significantly during the development of hyperthyroidism (P < 0.05). After initiation of treatment, patients gained significant amounts of weight over the first 6 months leading to elevated BMI z-scores (P < 0.0001), and elevations in BMI persisted in about 25% of the patients.. Excessive weight gain within 6 months of treatment is seen in children treated for GD, and the gain in weight can persist.

Topics: Adolescent; Aging; Antithyroid Agents; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Female; Graves Disease; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes; Male; Methimazole; Propylthiouracil; Sex Characteristics; Thyroid Function Tests; Thyroid Hormones; Thyroidectomy; Weight Gain

The effect of dietary taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, on hypercholesterolemia caused by thiouracil-induced hypothyroidism was investigated in hypothyroid rats. Serum total- and HDL-cholesterol were significantly increased, and the excretion of fecal bile acids was significantly decreased. Taurine did not change the hypercholesterolemia, but significantly recovered the excretion of bile acids.

Topics: Animals; Antithyroid Agents; Bile Acids and Salts; Diet; Eating; Feces; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypothyroidism; Male; Propylthiouracil; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Taurine; Thyroid Hormones; Weight Gain

Primiparous, spring-calving Brahman cows (BW = 425.0 +/- 13.8 kg, body condition score [BCS] = 5.0 +/- .2 units; SEM) were used to study the effects of thyroid manipulation on weight gain, milk production, and reproduction. Nine cows served as controls. Nine cows were induced to become hypothyroid by daily ingestion of 4 mg/kg BW of 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU). Cows were stratified to treatment 1 d after calving based on season of birth, BW, BCS, calf sex, and calf sire. The treatment period lasted for 84 d and was followed by a 56-d posttreatment period. Cow BW, BCS, and calf weight were recorded twice weekly. Milk production was estimated at 14, 28, 56, 84, 98, 112, and 140 d after calving. Weekly blood samples were obtained for analysis of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and progesterone (P4). Estrus was monitored twice daily with the aid of a fertile bull equipped with a chin ball marker. Hypothyroidism was effectively induced in all PTU cows during the treatment period. The PTU cows gained more (P = .002) weight (54.6 +/- 7.6 kg) and tended (P = .06) to increase body condition (.61 +/- .17 units) more than control cows (15.7 +/- 7.6 kg; .11 +/- .17 units) during the treatment period. Control calves gained at a faster rate (.85 +/- .04 kg/d; P < .01) than PTU calves (.70 +/- .04 kg/d) during the treatment period. Milk production was lower (P < .05) in PTU cows on d 56 and 84. During posttreatment all trends were reversed, and BW, BCS, calf weight, and milk production were similar between the two groups by d 140. Reproductive performance was not affected by induction of hypothyroidism. In conclusion, induction of hypothyroidism was successful in increasing cow weight and BCS gains and suppressing milk production during the treatment period, but these changes were not successful in improving reproductive performance of primiparous Brahman cows.

Topics: Animals; Antithyroid Agents; Birth Weight; Body Composition; Cattle; Female; Hypothyroidism; Lactation; Progesterone; Propylthiouracil; Reproduction; Weight Gain

The Endocrine Disrupter Screening and Testing Advisory Committee has recommended the female pubertal onset assay as a Tier I test to detect potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDs). We evaluated this assay's ability to detect EDs acting through various mechanisms. In two similar experiments, weanling female rats were dosed for 20 days by gavage with vehicle (0.5% methocel) or the following test compounds (mg/kg/day): 17beta-estradiol (E2; 0.1, 2, or 4), ketoconazole (KETO; 24, 50, or 100), finasteride (FIN; 20), testolactone (TL; 220), fadrozole (FAD; 0.6, 1.2, or 6.0) or 6-propylthiouracil (PTU; 240). In vehicle-treated females, mean age at pubertal onset, as evidenced by vaginal opening (VO), varied interexperimentally from 32.3+/-1.6 days to 33.5+/-1.8 days. At 0.1 mg/kg E2, age at VO was reduced slightly to 31.0+/-1.6 days, but not significantly (alpha=0.05). Higher E2 doses (2.0 and 4.0) reduced age at VO to 28 days. KETO delayed VO, but this delay was significant only at 100 mg/kg (39.7+/-2.4 days). FIN and TL had no effect on age at pubertal onset; however, FAD significantly delayed VO. PTU delayed VO to 34.2+/-1.1 days and altered thyroid weight, histology, and hormone levels. With each compound, significant changes in age at VO were accompanied by decreased uterine or ovarian weights. Thus, although this assay did not detect TL or lower doses of E2 (0.1 mg/kg) or KETO (< or = 50 mg/kg), it was capable of detecting EDs operating through a variety of mechanisms.

Topics: 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Antithyroid Agents; Endocrine Glands; Enzyme Inhibitors; Estradiol; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Fadrozole; Female; Finasteride; Ketoconazole; Male; Organ Size; Propylthiouracil; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sexual Maturation; Steroids; Testolactone; Thyroid Hormones; Toxicology; Uterus; Weight Gain

The effect of the thyroid hormone on the rate of brain protein synthesis in rats was studied. Experiments were conducted on three groups of rats given 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU, a thyroid inhibitor) without a triiodothyronine (T3) treatment, those treated with PTU + T3, and those treated with neither PTU nor T3 (control). The fractional rates of protein synthesis in the brain, liver, and kidney of rats given PTU + T3 were significantly greater than those in rats given PTU alone. In the brain and kidney, the RNA activity [g of protein synthesized/(g of RNA.d)] were significantly correlated with the fractional rates of protein synthesis. In the liver and kidney, the RNA concentration (mg of RNA/g of protein) was related to the fractional rate of protein synthesis. These results suggest that the thyroid hormone treatment would be likely to increase the rate of protein synthesis in the brain of rats, and that the RNA activity is, at least partly, related to the fractional rate of brain protein synthesis.

Topics: Animals; Antithyroid Agents; Brain Chemistry; Diet; Kinetics; Male; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Organ Size; Phenylalanine; Propylthiouracil; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA; Thyroid Hormones; Weight Gain

1. Four experiments were conducted to determine if dietary ascorbic acid (AA) affects body weight gain, food intake, organ weights, plasma cholesterol concentration, and ascorbic acid concentration in the plasma and liver of growing male broilers treated with an antithyroidal agent, propylthiouracil (PTU). 2. In the first experiment, 15 mg AA was administered daily into the crop of chicks fed on a diet supplemented with or without PTU (500 mg/kg). Administration of AA reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations in the PTU-treated chicks. 3. In the other three experiments, chicks were given the basal diet or an AA-containing (3 g/kg) diet supplemented with or without PTU (250 mg or 500 mg/kg). Feeding AA partly prevented the decreases in body weight gain, gain:food ratio and weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus in chicks fed on the 250 mg/kg PTU diet, and also prevented the increase in plasma cholesterol concentrations in chicks fed on the PTU diet. 4. These results suggest that AA improves the performance of chicks with experimentally induced hypothyroidism.

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Bursa of Fabricius; Chickens; Cholesterol; Eating; Hypothyroidism; Liver; Male; Organ Size; Poultry Diseases; Propylthiouracil; Spleen; Thyroid Gland; Weight Gain

Age dependency of triiodothyronine (T3)-induced thermogenesis of young chicks at 1 and 2 wk of age was investigated by dietary administration of .5% propylthiouracil (PTU), an inhibitor of thyroid hormone synthesis. Heat production measured by indirect calorimetry was increased by an intraperitoneal injection of T3, but the thermogenic effect was larger at 2 wk than at 1 wk of age. Heat production at 2 wk of age was decreased by PTU when the T3 was not administered, whereas the inhibitory effect of PTU was not found at 1 wk of age. It would appear, therefore, that little or no thermogenesis is responsive to exogenous T3 in young chicks at 1 wk of age even though the suppression of endogenous T3 is likely to occur by the PTU treatment.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Body Temperature Regulation; Calorimetry; Chickens; Male; Propylthiouracil; Triiodothyronine; Weight Gain

We investigated the role of thyroid hormone in the postnatal development of Ca2+ transport activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle (m. gastrocnemius-plantaris). With a Ca2+-stat method using the fluorescent dye fura 2 as Ca2+ indicator, we determined the oxalate-supported maximal Ca2+ uptake activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum in whole muscle homogenates from neonatal rats. Expressed per g tissue wet wt, the activity increased nearly 10-fold during the first 8 weeks after birth, following which time a plateau was reached. This development was absent in hypothyroid pups, in which the level of Ca2+ uptake activity remained constant at 10% of the normal adult value for at least 8 weeks. When the mothers were given 0.05% propylthiouracil in the drinking water 1 week before parturition, these pups ceased to grow after 4 weeks, had a reduced muscle protein content and a characteristic cretinous appearance. The effects of hypothyroidism could be reversed by T3 treatment (0.5 micrograms/100 g BW, daily) starting 1 or 6 weeks after birth. Treatment with bovine GH (0.1 or 0.5 IU/100 g BW; daily) starting on day 5 stimulated body growth, particularly of muscle, but was without effect on the failing development of Ca2+ uptake activity. The postnatal rise in citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase activities was impaired in the hypothyroid group, but lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities rose continuously, although at a reduced rate. T3 treatment also reversed these effects of propylthiouracil. At the higher dosage used bovine GH appeared to stimulate the accumulation of creatine kinase. We conclude that the failing postnatal development of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport activity in hypothyroidism is not secondary to the absence of GH, nor is it part of a general, indiscriminate effect, but, rather, that it indicates an absolute requirement of thyroid hormone for this particular aspect of muscle differentiation.

Topics: Animals; Benzofurans; Biological Transport; Calcium; Citrate (si)-Synthase; Creatine Kinase; Cytosol; Female; Fluorescent Dyes; Fura-2; Growth Hormone; Hypothyroidism; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Mitochondria; Muscle Development; Muscles; Pregnancy; Propylthiouracil; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum; Succinate Dehydrogenase; Thyroid Hormones; Triiodothyronine; Weight Gain