Abstract: | In cultured porcine thyroid cells, exposure to iodide induces morphological and electrophysiological changes in the cells and suppresses the iodine uptake and organification activities of the cells. NaI affects thyroid structures: after exposure to 10(-7), 10(-6), and 10(-5) M NaI, the follicles first lose their typical roundness, and then the numbers of microvilli decrease. NaI (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) decreases the thyroid electrical membrane potentials. NaI induces suppression of iodine uptake and organification: exposure to 10(-6) and 10(-5) M NaI suppresses subsequently determined iodine uptake and organification. This iodide-induced suppression of iodine uptake and organification may be related to the iodide-induced morphological and electrophysiological changes. The iodide-induced changes and suppression of iodide uptake and organification are reversible. They are observed when thyroid cells are cultured in the presence of TSH. |