Site of production of IGF1 in the normal and stimulated mouse thyroid

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) has emerged as an essential factor in the follicular cell growth response in vitro to TSH, although its source within the thyroid in vivo is not clear. We have studied the localisation of IGF1 mRNA by in situ hybridization using digoxigenin labelled oligoprobes in tissue sections of mouse thyroid. Our results show that in the thyroid IGF1 mRNA is predominantly present in follicular cells and C cells rather than the stroma. Follicular cell levels are higher during postnatal thyroid growth and during the growth response to goitrogen administration, but decrease in the mature animal. This decrease in production is limited to the follicular cells, as IGF1 mRNA is still easily demonstrable in C cells and in the parathyroid. Immunocytochemistry for IGF1 peptide shows a weak and variable follicular cell content in both juvenile and mature mice, but a more uniform distribution during growth in response to a goitrogenic stimulus. These studies show that the follicular cells are the main source of IGF1 in the thyroid, and suggest that the role of IGF1 in follicular cell growth is as an autocrine factor.