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THE INFLUENCE OF CALCIUM AND IODINE ON GROWING RATS

Department of Medical Research, Banting Institute University of Toronto TORONTO

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to show that the amount of calcium in the intake induced definite changes in the thyroid gland of the rat under specific conditions. The experiments were devised to meet certain objections arising from former work concerned with the effect of rachitogenic diets on the thyroid gland of the albino rat (18). The results of that study indicated that the addition of calcium carbonate to diets deficient in iodine resulted in an enhancement of the degree of hyperplasia. Since there was a considerable variation found in the degree of hyperplasia within similar experimental groups, the above statement might be challenged. The possibility that markedly hyperplastic changes might have been encountered if a larger number of glands from rats on iodine-deficient diets containing lesser amounts of calcium had been examined, has to be considered. The influence of new cereals may have been a contributing factor. Furthermore, the animals on low iodine diets may have been affected by the proximity of others on diets containing additional iodine. Since this criticism could be adduced, it was decided to investigate the influence of variations in the iodine and calcium intake of the rat under more carefully controlled conditions.

In planning the procedure, the desirability of prolonging the duration of the experimental period over that of the preliminary study was considered. It seemed reasonable to assume that the development of contrasting abnormalities in the thyroid glands would be magnified with increased time. Therefore the experiment was followed for several months. Provided a positive effect was obtained, the question of a relationship between the iodine and calcium metabolism became involved. For this reasou, an attempt was made to determine whether irregularities in the metabolism of calcium were demonstrable. These were sought in the bones, sera, and parathyroid glands. Other manifestations occurring in the experimental animals possibly related to a functional disturbance of the thyroid gland were recorded.

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