INCREASED PROTEIN CATABOLISM IN THYROIDECTOMIZED RATS: RATES OF URINE UREA EXCRETION AND SERUM UREA CONCENTRATIONS1

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Abstract
The rates of urea excretion and the serum urea concns. of thyroidectomized rats were compared with those of appropriate controls using 2 diets, stock diet containing 17% protein, and a 35% glucose soln. The serum urea concns. of the thyroidectomized rats were greater than those of the controls on both diets. When fed stock diet, the avg. rate of urea excretion of the thyroidectomized animals rose from 27% less than the unoperated control rate 1 wk. after operation to almost the same as the unoperated control rate 24 days after thyroidectomy. The food consumption of the thyroidectomized rats was one half that of unoperated controls of equivalent body wts. When fed a 35% glucose soln. for 4 days, the rate of urea excretion of the thyroidectomized rats was 111% greater than the control rate. The hypothesis is advanced that thyroidectomy in rats produces opposite effects on protein metabolism and on carbohydrate and fat metabolism, protein catabolism being increased, and the catabolism of carbohydrate and fat being decreased.

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