EPIDERMAL RESPONSE TO CHANGE IN THYROID STATUS

[摘要] Epidermal dimensions, replication and anabolic activity were studied before and after treatment in 10 patients with thyrotoxicosis and 7 patients with hypothyroidism. Following treatment of thyrotoxicosis there was a significant decrease in epidermal thickness, and also in cell replication as measured by an autoradiographic labeling index technique. The rates of anabolic activity in the epidermis, as estimated by measuring the rates of incorporation of tritiated precursor compounds, were significantly reduced after treatment in the thyrotoxic group. There were increases in these same measurements in the hypothyroid group following treatment, although their magnitude was not as great as that seen after treatment of thyrotoxicosis. There was a significant positive correlation between serum triiodothyronine [T3] and epidermal thickness, labeling index and proline incorporation, but not correlation could be detected between serum thyroxine I and any of the epidermal measurements. The epidermis apparently changes in structure and activity in thyroid disease, and the changes are probably rapidly reversible. The correlations found suggest that the receptors for thyroid hormone in human skin are specific for T3.