Effect of Thyroid Hormone on Growth of Thyrotrophin-Secreting Pituitary Tumors.

Abstract

Pituitary tumors induced by radiothyroidectomy can readily be grafted on hosts similarly treated, but not on normal mice. The growth of these grafted dependent pituitary tumors can be effectively prevented or retarded by admn. of the thyroid hormone (TH). In the course of successive transplantations some dependent strains become autonomous. Such autonomous growths cannot be controlled by TH. These expts. support the view that lack of TH is the major growth stimulant of pituitary tumors induced by radiothyroidectomy.