Hormones of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis are significant regulators of synthesis and secretion of vitamin K-dependent plasma coagulation factors

Abstract

Present data about hormonal regulation of haemostasis are often contradictory and are mostly based on clinical observations. The aim of the current research is to study the effects of the hormones of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis on plasma levels (i.e. on the synthesis and secretion) of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors in rats. The study was carried out on 65 male Wistar rats, divided into five groups. The animals were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) once daily for three consecutive days as follows: the first group was injected with Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), in a dose of 0.06 mg/kg b.w.; the second group by Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), with a dose of 1 MU/kg b.w., the third and the fourth group respectively with Liothyroninum (Triiodothyronin ? T3) and Levothyroxinum (Thyroxin ? T4) with a dose of 0.08 mg/kg b.w. each. The control group rats were injected with saline (the solvent of the hormones), following the same schedule and volume per kg b.w. The necessary quantity of blood was acquired by a cardiac puncture under ether narcosis, and antigen levels of plasma factors II, VII, IX and X (FII:Ag, FVII:Ag, FIX:Ag and FX:Ag) were determined by ELISA kits (Diagnostica Stago, France). TRH, TSH, T3 and T4 significantly decreased the plasma antigen levels of FII and FVII (p>0.001). TRH, T3 and TSH reduced significantly FIX:Ag level( p>0.001 for TRH and T3 and p>0.05 for TSH) while T4 did not exert significant changes ( p>0.05). FX:Ag level was also significantly reduced by TRH, T3 (p>0.001), TSH and T4 (p>0.01). Plasma levels of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors FІІ:Ag, FVІІ:Ag, FІХ:Ag and FХ:Ag are significantly reduced under the influence of the hormones of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis which signifies their decreased synthesis and secretion. T4 does not induce substantial changes in FIX:Ag plasma level