Hepatic damage in the rat following administration of thyroxine or triiodothyronine, assessed by measurement of plasma glutathione S-transferase YaYa concentrations

A specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed that has sufficient sensitivity to allow measurement of the changes in plasma and tissue glutathione S-transferase (GST) YaYa concentrations which occur following thyroid hormone administration in the rat. Using the RIA it was demonstrated that the only tissues that had significant amounts of GST YaYa were liver, small gut and kidney. Administration of triiodothyronine (T3) or thyroxine (T4) resulted in increases in plasma GST YaYa concentration and in animals given high doses of T4 plasma alanine aminotransferase activity was also elevated. Thyroid hormone administration produced a significant fall in the hepatic content of GST YaYa and in total GST activity, as assessed using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate. It is concluded that the elevated plasma GST YaYa concentrations observed following administration of thyroid hormones result from hepatic damage, not from induction of hepatic synthesis of the enzyme.