The isolation of thyroxine (T4), the discovery of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), and the identification of the deiodinases that generate T3 from T4: An historical review

摘要

The thyroid gland was first described in the 17th century. However, the concept that this organ might have a functional role in the body was not recognized until the 19th century, when cretinism and myxedema were associated with thyroid atrophy, surgical thyroidectomy was found to result in symptoms comparable to those seen in patients with myxedema [1] and Murray demonstrated that myxedema could be treated successfully with daily injections of sheep thyroid extract [2]. These findings suggested that the thyroid secreted an active principle(s) essential for the prevention of myxedema, and in 1914 Kendall succeeded in isolating from the thyroid the compound now recognized as thyroxine (T4).