Thyroidal Hormones Influence Oil Red O Staining of Lipids in Cultured Human Kidney Cells 1

Summary

l-Thyroxine (1.78 × 10^-7−8.90 × 10⁻⁶ M) added to the growth medium enhances lipid staining by oil red O in the T−1 human kidney cell line. By counting dye droplets as a function of hormone concentration, a biphasic response pattern is disclosed, the optimal effect resulting from a titer of 1.78 × 10⁻⁶ M. Fewer experiments made with l-triiodothyronine suggest similar biphasic behavior and that the most active concentration is about one-tenth less than T₄; as little as 8.90 × 10⁻⁹ M of T₃ increases lipid visualization. These findings further substantiate the validity of the T-1 cell line as an in vitro model for investigating thyroidal hormone interactions.