THE EFFECT OF THYROID ADMINISTRATION ON THE PANCREATIC AMYLASE ACTIVITY OF HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED AND INTACT RATS

Abstract

The administration of desiccated thyroid gland to hypophysectomized rats prevented the marked atrophy of the pancreas which was consistently observed following hypophysectomy. Thyroid feeding at two dose levels led to a significant increase in the pancreatic amylase activity of hypophysectomized rats. This held whether the results were expressed as total activity or were given as activity per unit of body weight, per unit of pancreas, or per mg nitrogen. Except for the activity per unit of body weight, the amylase activity of the thyroid-treated hypophysectomized rats was significantly lower than the amylase activity in untreated, intact controls. In the thyroid-fed, hypophysectomized rats the amylase activity per unit of body weight was not significantly different from that of intact, untreated controls.Thyroid administration in intact rats resulted in a decrease in the pancreatic amylase activity.