Effect of Adrenalectomy and Successive Hydrocortisone Replacement on Thyroid Secretion Rate in Male and Female Rats.

Abstract

L-thyroxine secretion rates (TSR) averaged 0.94 [mu]g/100 g/day in 34 male and 25 female albino rats. No sex differences were found. TSR determined 2 weeks after adrenalectomy on 1% NaCl replacement therapy was significantly reduced by 17% in males and 32% in females. TSR determined after 2 weeks of hydrocortisone replacement (150 [mu]g/ day) in addition to l%NaCl was found to return to normal level. Body weight was not affected by treatments. It was suggested that reduced TSR after adrenalectomy may be due, in part, to reduced feed consumption rather than adrenalectomy per se.