A possible mechanism for decrease in serum thyroxine level by polychlorinated biphenyls in Wistar and Gunn rats

We have previously demonstrated that in mice, the decrease in serum thyroxine (T-4) level by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) occurs without an increase in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (T-4-UDP-GT) for T-4 glucuronidation, although the PCB-induced decrease in rats is generally thought to occur through induction of T-4-UDP-GT, UGT1A1, and UGT1A6. In the present study, to further clarify the relationship between the decrease in serum T-4 level and the increase in UGT1A activity by PCB in rats, we examined the relationship using Wistar rats and Gunn rats, a mutant strain of Wistar rats deficient in UGT1A isoforms. The serum total T-4 level was markedly decreased not only in the Wistar rats but also in the Gunn rats 4 days after treatment with a PCB, Kanechlor-500 (KC500, 100 mg/kg) or 2,2',4,5,5'-pentachlorobiphenyl (PentaCB, 112 mg/kg), and there was no significant difference in magnitude of the decrease between the two rat strains. At the same time, the level and activity of T-4-UDP-GT were significantly increased by treatment with either KC500 or PentaCB in Wistar rats but not in Gunn rats. In addition, no significant change in the level of serum total triiodothyronine (T-3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone by the KC500 treatment was observed in either Wistar or Gunn rats. Furthermore, significant decrease in the activity of hepatic type-I deiodinase, which mediates the deiodization of T-4 and T-3, by treatment with KC500 or PentaCB was observed in both Wistar and Gunn rats. From the serum of KC500- or PentaCB-treated Wistar and Gunn rats, mono- and di-hydroxylated PCB metabolites, which would bind to T-4 binding serum protein (transthyretin), were detected. In conclusion, the present results suggest that the decrease in serum total T-4 level by either KC500 or PentaCB in Gunn rats was not dependent on the increase in hepatic T-4-UDP-GT activity. The findings further suggest that the PCB-mediated decrease in serum T-4 level might occur, at least in part, through formation of the hydroxylated PCB metabolites. Furthermore, even in Wistar rats, the PCB-mediated decrease in serum T-4 level might occur not only through the increase in hepatic T-4-UDP-GT but also via formation of hydroxylated PCB metabolites.