L-thyroxine and L-triiodothyronine in the cerebral tissues of the adult rat. Effect of hypothyroidism

Abstract
The L-thyroxine and L-triiodothyronine concentrations in several brain areas (cerebral cortex, brain stem, hypothalamus, total brain and hypophysis) in normal and hypothyroid rats have been studied. Results show that L-thyroxine values at tissue level are inferior in the hypothyroid group, although non-significant with respect to the control group, whereas L-triiodothyronine presents values similar to the hypothyroid group and its control in all the brain regions studied with the exception of hypophysis. These results show that in hypothyroid situations exist a compensatory mechanism for maintaining the adequate L-triiodothyronine levels in several brain areas, although the serum levels are strongly decreased in hypothyroid animals.
Keywords:
Brain Chemistry, Animals, Brain/pathology, Hypothyroidism/metabolism/pathology, Inbred Strains, Male, Organ Size, Rats, Thyroidectomy, Thyroxine/analysis, Triiodothyronine/analysis, Thyroid hormones, Brain regions, Surgical hypothyroidism
Authors
Issue
Section
Articles