Pharmacotherapeutics of the Thyroid Gland

1 Introduction: Clinical Aspects of Thyroid Treatment.- A. Introduction.- B. Choices of Treatment for the Hyperthyroidism of Graves' Disease.- C. Subclinical Hyperthyroidism.- D. Correct Dose of Thyroxine in Primary Hypothyroidism.- E. Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Treatment or Not?.- References.- 2 Control of TRH and TSH Secretion.- A. Introduction.- B. Negative Feedback Action of Thyroid Hormones.- C. Structure and Actions of TRH.- D. Structure and Actions of Somatostatin.- E. Actions of Neurotransmitters.- F. Actions of Cytokines and Inflammatory Mediators.- G. Physiological and Secondary TSH Changes.- References.- 3 The TSH Receptor.- A. Introduction.- B. TSH Receptor Cloning.- C. Structure of the TSHR in the Human Thyroid Gland.- D. Structure of the TSHR in Transfected Cells.- E. Controversies on Receptor Structure.- F. Expression of the TSH Receptor in the Baculovirus System.- G. Shedding of TSH Receptor Ectodomain in Thyroid and Transfected Cells.- H. Cellular Expression of the TSH Receptor.- I. Intracellular Trafficking of the Receptor.- J. Structure-Function Relationships.- K. Gene Structure and Regulation.- L. The TSH Receptor and Pathology.- M. Conclusions.- References.- 4 Thyroid Hormone Synthesis, Plasma Membrane Transport and Metabolism.- A. Thyroid Hormone Synthesis.- B. Thyroid Hormone Plasma Membrane Transport.- C. Thyroid Hormone Metabolism.- D. Deiodination.- E. Characterization of Iodothyronine Deiodinases.- F. Sulphation.- G. Glucuronidation.- References.- 5 Thyroid Hormone Transport.- A. Introduction.- B. Serum Bingding in Humans.- C. Binding Kinetics.- D. Free Hormone Measurement.- E. Interactions with Competitors.- References.- 6 Molecular Biology of Thyroid Hormone Action.- A. Introduction.- B. Extranuclear Mechanisms of Thyroid Hormone Action.-C. Identification of High-Affinity Nuclear-Binding Sites for Thyroid Hormones.- D. Cloning of cDNAs Encoding Nuclear Receptors for T3.- E. Recognition of Two Genes Encoding Two Major Classes of TR.- F. Thyroid Hormone Response Elements.- G. Structural Characteristics of TRs and Identification of Functional Domains.- H. Role of the TR Splice Variant TR?2.- References.- 7 Iodine: Metabolism and Pharmacology.- A. Introduction.- B. Iodide Transport and Organification.- C. Thyroid Autoregulation.- References.- 8 Antithyroid Drugs: Their Mechanism of Action and Clinical Use.- A. Introduction.- B. Hyperthyroidism.- C. Pharmacokinetics.- D. Mechanism of Action.- E. Clinical Use.- F. Conclusions.- References.- 9 Effect of Lithium on the Thyroid Gland.- A. Introduction.- B. Effect on Thyroid Physiology.- C. Effect on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis.- D. Lithium and Cell Function.- E Immunological Effects on Thyroid Function.- F. Effect on Thyroid Hormone Action.- G. Clinical Effects on the Thyroid.- H. Clinical Use in Thyroid Disease.- References.- 10 Amiodarone and the Thyroid.- A. Pharmacology of Amiodarone.- B. Effects of Amiodarone on Thyroid Hormone Secretion and Metabolism.- C. Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis and Amiodarone-Induced Hypothyroidism.- D. Amiodarone as a Thyroid Hormone Antagonist.- References.- 11 Effects of Other Pharmacological Agents on Thyroid Function.- A. Introduction.- B. Effects of Various Drugs on Thyroidal Hormonogenesis.- C. Effects of Drugs on Thyroid Hormone Metabolism.- D. Drug Effects on Cellular and Intestinal Uptake of Thyroid Hormone.- References.- 12 Effects of Environmental Agents on Thyroid Function.- A. Introduction.- B. Chemical Categories, Sources, Pharmacokinetics, and Mechanism of Action.- References.- 13 Thyroid HormoneAntagonism.- A. Introduction.- B Inhibition of Uptake.- C. Cytoplasmic Binding.- D. Antagonism at the Receptor Level.- References.- 14 Immunomodulatory Agents in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.- A. Introduction.- B. Hormones and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.- C. Toxins and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.- D. Trace Elements and Autoimmune Thyroiditis.- E. Drugs and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.- F. Cytokines and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.- G. Immunomodulatory Agents in TAO.- References.