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EFFECT OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY OF THE PREGNANT RAT ON I$sup 131$ METABOLISM OF THE FETAL THYROID GLAND

Journal Article · · Endocrinology (U.S.)

Pregnant rats were hypophysectomized on the 12th to 13th days of pregnancy and killed 8 to 9 days later. Seventeen to 18 hr before they were killed, carrier-free I/sup 131/ was injected either into the mothers or directly into the fetuses in utero. Hypophysectomy of the mother failed to influence fetal thyroid weight and had no significant influence on I/sup 131/ uptake by the fetal thyroid gland; nor did hypophysectomy of the mother change the pattern of distribution of I/sup 131/ among iodinated amino acids liberated by thyroglobulin hydrolysis of the fetal thyroid glands. These findings support the view that the hypophysial-thyroid axis functions in the rat before birth and that the deficiency of thyrotropic hormone induced in the mother by hypophysectomy does not affect the I/sup 131/ metabolism of the fetal thyroid gland. I/sup 131/ metabolism in the thyroid glands of hypophysectomized pregnant and hypophysectomized nonpregnant rats was compared. In the pregnant rats, I/sup 131/ uptakes were higher, and labeling of thyroidal thyroxine was higher and that of monoiodotyrosine lower than in corresponding nonpregnant rats. (auth)

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Berkeley
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-17-038712
OSTI ID:
4634835
Journal Information:
Endocrinology (U.S.), Journal Name: Endocrinology (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 73; ISSN ENDOA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English