THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THYROID ACTIVITY AND THE LEVEL OF PSEUDO-CHOLINESTERASE IN THE PLASMA OF RATS1

Abstract

A depression in the level of thyroxine in normal male rats induced by thyroidectomy or by treatment with thiouracil results in an elevation in the activity of pseudo-cholinesterase in the plasma of these animals. Statistically, the rise in the activity of this enzyme is highly significant. An elevation in the level of thyroxine, on the other hand, leads to a depression in the activity of plasma pseudo-cholinesterase which is also highly significant. Admn. of thyroxine prevents the rise in pseudo-cholinesterase which is induced by thiouracil treatment. The level of plasma true cholinesterase is not affected by the above procedures.