This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SCHMIDT, I. G. Articles by SCHMIDT, L. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by SCHMIDT, I. G. Articles by SCHMIDT, L. H.

VARIATIONS IN THE STRUCTURE OF ADRENALS AND THYROIDS PRODUCED BY THYROXINE AND HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES¹

From the Departments of Anatomy and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati and the Christ Hospital Research Institute CINCINNATI, OHIO

Abstract

The present report concerns a study of the structural changes in the adrenals and thyroids of guinea pigs treated with thyroxine at ordinary and high environmental temperatures. This study grew out of an observation (1) that thyroxine was much more toxic (as judged by loss of weight and formation of gastric ulcers) for animals kept at 32°C. than at 20°C. It was suggested that this increased toxicity was the result of suprarenal exhaustion produced by the combination of high temperature and high humidity, and thyroxine treatment. Our present observations do not offer conclusive proof of the existence of adrenal exhaustion. The results are recorded, however, since they are so striking and have not been reported heretofore.

The adrenals and thyroids were obtained from some of the ‘hot-room’ and ‘control-room’ guinea pigs whose care and treatment were described in the preceding report (1).

Footnotes

¹ Read before the American Association of Anatomists, Toronto, Canada, March 1937.