Sialoadenectomy and Thyroid Response to Thyrotrophic Hormone

Abstract

PREVIOUS observations^1–3 have been reported which indicated the salivary glands to be capable of modifying thyroid activity, such modification being made apparent by a reduced iodine-131 uptake, reduced turnover rate and a reduction in the thyroid-stimulating hormone titre as determined by the method of Barell and Holmgren⁴. Since sialoadenectomy imposed upon hypophysectomized rats did not result in different thyroid activities², it was postulated that the salivary glands, that is, substance(s) elaborated therefrom, could act upon the thyroid (1) in conjunction with the hypophysis (synergistic action) or (2) upon the hypophysis directly. In an attempt to learn something of the mode of action of the salivary-gland secretions on thyroid activity, the response of sialoadenectomized, hypophysectomized and intact animals to parenteral thyroid-stimulating hormone was studied. Animal feeding, care, size, strain, pre- and post-operative treatment were as previously described^1–3. There were not less than eight and no more than twelve rats in any experimental or control group. The radioactivity assays were performed in the same manner as they were in previous studies.