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THYROID FUNCTION IN MALE ZUCKER RATS EXPOSED TO COLD
Author(s) -
Whitaker E. M.,
Robinson A. C.,
Rayfield K. M.,
Hervey G. R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0144-8757
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1988.sp003216
Subject(s) - thyroid function , thyroid , endocrinology , medicine , function (biology) , thyroid function tests , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Non‐obese and obese Zucker rats were exposed to 6 °C for 20 days. At the end of the experiment thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), circulating thyroid hormones, and the weights of the thyroid gland and a brown adipose tissue pad were measured. TSH and 3,5,3'‐triiodothyronine concentrations and brown adipose tissue weights increased in response to cold in both phenotypes but by larger amounts in obese rats. Free thyroxine was lower in obese rats. There appears to be no defect in thyroid function in congenitally obese rats exposed to cold, or in their ability to develop brown adipose tissue.