THE UPTAKE OF RADIOACTIVE SULPHATE BY THE RETROBULBAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE AND HARDER'S GLAND IN GUINEA PIGS TREATED WITH THYROTROPHIN

Abstract

With the guinea pig as test animal, the uptake of S35 and its response to a thyrotropin preparation (TSH) were studied in the retrobulbar and mesenteric connective tissue, in Harder''s gland, and in the thyroid gland. TSH caused a marked increase in the uptake of S35 by the retrobulbar connective tissue 8 hours after injection of TSH and a definite reaction was still observable 24 hours later. The same phenomenon was seen in Harder''s gland but not in the mesenteric connective tissue or the thyroid gland. The effect of repeated daily injections of TSH was studied. In the retrobulbar tissue and in Harder''s gland maximal uptake of S35 occurred after 2-3 injections of TSH, respectively. In untreated animals the uptake by Harder''s gland was 5-10 times that by the retrobulbar tissue. The level of S35 in Harder''s gland then subsided steadily and rapidly for 48 hours, whereas, in the retrobulbar tissue the level was maintained for 48 hours.