Endocrine Abstracts

The purpose of study was to examine the content of gastrointestinal hormones in patients with hypothyroidism.

Objectives and methods: We investigated of 37 patients, which hypothyroidism, at the age from 23 to 65 years. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism was confirmed by measurement of thyroid hormones and TSH in serum. Immunohistochemistry in gastrobiopsies of the antrum of patients studied gastrin, serotonin, melatonin. The primary antibodies used commercial antibodies to serotonin, gastrin, melatonin (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark, caption 1:50). Measurements were conducted in five fields of view (objective with increase in 40) in three slices of the examined organ.

Results: In the group of the patients in whom no biopsy serotonin and melatonin in the blood TSH level was 19.9±3.8 mIU/l, the level of free thyroxine (T₄) of 7.8±2.3 pmol/l, total T₄ 8.1±3.8 ng/ml. In the group of patients whose biopsy visually determined serotonin in the blood TSH level was 14.38±2.4 mIU/l, the level of free T₄ of 8.1±2.3 pmol/l, total T₄ 47±4.9 ng/ml. Only in biopsies of patients with hypothyroidism were detected all young gastrointestinal hormones: gastrin-secreting cells (G-cells) 5.6±3.7%, serotonin-secreting cells (EC-cell) 3.7±1.3%, melatonin-producing cells 1.3±0.6%. Given results testify about the disturbance in the system of local hormonal gastrointestinal regulation, close interrelation of disturbances (GIG) with the vegetative nervous system.

Conclusion: Thus, the results indicate a possible violation of local gastrointestinal hormonal regulation in patients with hypothyroidism with middle-aged and elderly.