The effect of thyroxine and triiodothyronine on bacterial growth
The effects of L-thyroxine, D-thyroxine, and 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine on the growth of several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were examined. The first two compounds, at a concentration of 7.7 × 10−5 M, were found to have a considerable inhibitory effect while 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine had a very weak effect on the growth of the Gram-positive bacteria examined. The growth of the Gram-negative bacteria was not inhibited under the same conditions.Potassium iodide, at the same concentration, was not inhibitory. Release of free iodine from the thyroxine preparation was also excluded as contributing to the thyroxine effect because it was shown to be less toxic than thyroxine for Bacillus cereus 569 and to exhibit a similar inhibitory effect on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.The inhibition of Gram-positive bacteria by L-thyroxine was reduced by cations such as Mn2+, Fe2+, and Ca2+. However, the hormones were more potent in their effect compared to EDTA in the same molar concentration and the inhibition exerted by them was not so easily abolished by the divalent cations as it was in the case of EDTA. Although chelation could contribute to the inhibition of the bacteria by the iodinated hormones, it seems that it is not the only factor involved.