THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS STEROIDS ON THE COLLECTION OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE BY THE THYROID GLAND OF THE RAT

Abstract

introduction NUMEROUS reports have suggested that both the adrenal glands and the gonads might play a role in the control of normal thyroid function (Means, 1948). To our knowledge, however, no complete study, clinical or animal, has been done to determine this possible relationship. Moreover, in many cases the observations which have been made are difficult to evaluate due to great variation in experimental conditions. Gassner and co-workers (1947) and Money et al. (1950) have recently reviewed the literature on this subject. Therefore, further discussion will be omitted from this publication. For some time we have been investigating the factors involved in control of normal thyroid function. In the course of our studies it was found of interest to determine the effects of various adrenal and gonadal substances on the thyroid. The criteria we have used in this investigation were (1) the effect of the compounds on thyroid weight and (2) the collection of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland.