FAILURE OF VASOPRESSIN OR OXYTOCIN TO STIMULATE THYROID FUNCTION IN THE NORMAL MALE

Abstract
In a group of normal adult males the administration of 0.2-0.4 I.U. per Kg. of vasopressin (5 subjects) or 0.4 I.U. per Kg. of oxytocin (5 subjects) intravenously four days after an oral tracer dose of radioiodine caused no significant increase in the plasma level of the radioactive protein-bound iodine nor decrease in the thyroidal radioiodine content. In 3 additional men, the parameters used were significantly altered by 10 I.U. of thyrotropin given intramuscularly. Therefore, under the conditions studied, neither vasopression nor oxytocin stimulate the human thyroid, either directly or by way of thyrotropin release.