The Role of the Thyroid and Food Intake in the Ageing of Collagen Fibres

Abstract

Thyroidectomy retards the aging or maturation of collagen fibers in the tail tendon of the young rat. Thyroxine accelerates this aging process in the thyroidectomized rat The aging effect of thyroxine is related to the increased food intake in these animals. The aging of collagen fibers is not accelerated by thyroxine, if the food intake is kept at the level consumed by thyroidectomized rats.