AUGMENTATION OF THYROTROPIC HORMONE ACTIVITY BY ADRENALINE OR PILOCARPINE

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Abstract
The effect of the anterior hypophyseal thyrotropic hormone in guinea pigs is significantly enhanced if its daily adm. is combined with the inj. of either adrenaline or pilocarpine. Various considerations suggest that the pilocarpine acts through the adrenal medulla and that adrenaline renders the thyroid cells more sensitive to the thyrotropic activity of the anterior hypophyseal extract. Neither adrenaline nor pilocarpine augments the metabolic activity of thyroid substance which is administered orally to normal guinea pigs. Neither adrenaline, pilocarpine nor mecholyl alone increases the basal metabolic rate of guinea pigs during 7 successive days of adm. Within 24-72 hrs. after the injs. are discontinued, however, the rate of O2 consumption decreases to remarkably low levels and continues thus for several days before returning to the pretreatment level. After the adm. of thyroid substance to normal guinea pigs is stopped, the metabolic rate decreases to a subnormal level of -10 to - 20% instead of returning to its original point of departure. The adm. of thyroid substance induces a decrease in the function of the animal''s own thyroid by way of the thyroid-regulatory mechanism which normally controls the rate of secretion of the thyroid hormone.

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