Atrophy of Adrenal Gland Following Thiouracil and Vit. B12.

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Abstract
Male rats were treated with thiouracil (0.1% in drinking water) and a combination of thiouracil and vitamin B12. In the latter instance, the vitamin B12 was given daily via the subcutaneous route and at the 2 dosage levels of 10 and 20 [mu]g. Treatment with 10 ug of vitamin B12 partially prevented the body weight loss due to the thiouracil while 20 [mu]g of B12 gave complete protection. Adrenal glands of the saline control rats weighted 24.1 mg% body weight as compared with 12.9 mg% body weight for the thiouracil-treated rats. Combined treatment with thiouracil vitamin B12 gave adrenal gland weights of 14.4 and 15.8 mg% body weight for the groups receiving the 10 and 20 [mu]g of B12, respectively. The authors concluded that adrenal atrophy following thiouracil was due to the specific action of the goitrogen and not a reflection of body weight inhibition.