Effect of Thyroidectomy on Adrenal Weight in Adult Male Rats

Abstract

Although thyroidectomized adult male rats, having reached a "plateau" in their growth curves, exhibit a small difference in body wt. when compared with controls, there is no significant difference glands between the 2 groups in the relative wts. of the adrenal. The absolute wts. of the right adrenals of the operated and intact animals showed no difference. It is concluded, therefore, that thyroidectomy does not cause adrenal atrophy. The enlarged testes and seminal vesicles of the thyroidectomized rats are in conformity with previous observations that there is an increased sensitivity of the gonads and secondary sex organs of thyroid deficient rats to gonadotrophic hormones.