ON THE FUNCTIONAL CORRELATION BETWEEN SALIVARY GLANDS AND OTHER ENDOCRINE ORGANS III. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IODINE METABOLISM BY THE THYROID GLAND AND THE WEIGHT OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS OF RATS

Abstract

Observations were made following the administration of KClO4, MMI (l-methyl-2-mercapto-imidazole) TU (thiouracil) and MTU (6-methyl-thiouracil) for 2 or 7 weeks and KI for 3 weeks in drinking water to adult male rats; the relationship between the change in weight of the salivary glands and iodine metabolism was examined using radio-iodine. (1) The inhibition of iodine metabolism by the thyroid gland did not always result in the decrease in the weight of the salivary glands. There seems to be little evidence for a direct relationship between the function of the thyroid gland and the salivary glands from this experiment. (2) Significant iodide concentration by the salivary glands was not observed in normal animals; the antithyroid drugs used had no influence upon concentration.