Effects of pineal-derived indolic compounds and of certain neuropeptides on the growth processes in the thyroid gland.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of melatonin (Mel) and of pinealectomy (PX) [in a long-term experiment in vivo - 10 weeks], as well as of Mel and N-acetylserotonin (NAc-5HT) [in experiments ex vivo in vitro and in vitro], on the rat thyroid growth processes. Additionally, the incubations in vitro of rat thyroid lobes with 3H-thymidine, in the presence of TSH, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), VIP-antagonist ([4Cl-D-Ph6, Leu17]VIP), somatostatin (SS), all the substances used separately or jointly in combinations, were performed. It was shown that: (a) Mel--administered in late afternoon injections--decreased, while PX increased examined indices of thyroid growth in vivo, (b) Mel--administered in s.c. implanted pellets--reversed the inhibitory effect of Mel injections, (c) in experiments ex vivo in vitro and in vitro, the inhibitory effect of Mel revealed only for the lowest applied dose/concentration of the hormone, (d) NAc-5HT showed no effect, (e) VIP decreased 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of thyroid lobes in vitro and enhanced the inhibitory effect of SS on the process in question, (f) VIP-antagonist failed to reverse the inhibitory action of VIP on the thyroid growth.