Hormonal regulation of iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase in rat brown adipose tissue

Norepinephrine, isoproterenol, insulin, and glucagon increase the type II (low Km) iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (5'-D) in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of intact rats. Cycloheximide or actinomycin D blocks the increase after norepinephrine, suggesting new mRNA synthesis is required for this effect. The 3- to 10-fold increase in BAT 5'-D after insulin administration was also blocked by cycloheximide. The effects of all stimulators are blunted by fasting or streptozotocin-induced diabetes. While all these hormones have the potential for stimulating BAT 5'-D, the dose-response relationships suggest that norepinephrine and insulin are the most potent. These and our earlier studies showing additional effects of thyroid and growth hormones on BAT 5'-D point to the complex regulation of this enzyme, suggesting that the triiodothyronine produced from its action has an important role in the thermogenic response of this tissue.