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Decreased Thyroid Function and High Plasma Prolactin Levels in Rats of the Buffalo Strain^*

Thyroid Unit and Department of Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts 02114
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R.D.M.), Research Triangle Park North Carolina 27709

Address reprint requests to: Dr. J. D. Kieffer, Thyroid Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.

Abstract

Rats of the inbred Buffalo strain have previously been reported to be susceptible to thyroiditis, as defined by histology. We have studied the endocrinology of the pituitary-thyroid axis of this strain by making direct measurements of the plasma concentrations of TSH and T₄ in untreated, adult Buffalo rats of both sexes. Plasma PRL levels were also measured. All hormone determinations were by RIA. In addition, relative thyroid weights were noted and, in many cases, preliminary assessment of thyroid histology was made. Our principle findings were as follows. I) Decreased thyroid function, in addition to the previously reported histological abnormalities, was found to occur spontaneously among the rats studied. Indications of decreased function included elevations of plasma TSH and thyroid weight and depressions of plasma T₄. We estimated the incidence of unequivocal thyroid disease as approximately 3% in each sex. 2) Basal plasma PRL concentrations of Buffalo rats averaged three to four times higher than those of outbred CD rats.

Our findings strongly suggest that rats of the Buffalo strain will provide a good model for the study of thyroid failure of varying degrees and concomitant changes in the circulating levels of pituitary hormones. (Endocrinology 102: 1506, 1978)

Footnotes

^* This work was supported by USPHS Grant AM-16791.

Received August 18, 1977.