Carbachol and sodium fluoride, but not TSH, stimulate the generation of inositol phosphates in the dog thyroid.

In dog thyroid slices prelabeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol, carbachol (10(-7)-10(-4) M) and NaF (10-20 mM) stimulated IP1, IP2 and IP3 generation. These effects did not require the presence of extracellular calcium. Atropine and PDBu inhibited the action of the cholinergic agonist. No effect of TSH (1-100 mU/ml) could be detected on PIP2 hydrolysis and IP production. These results suggest that IP3 could play a role in the metabolic actions of carbachol in the thyroid; a G-protein coupling the hormone-receptor binding to phospholipase C activation exists in the thyroid membrane; the well known TSH-induced increased PI turnover does not result in IP3 accumulation.