THE INFLUENCE OF THE THYROID ON ADRENOCORTICAL FUNCTION*†

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Abstract
THE results of several clinical and experimental studies using radioactive iodine are in agreement that corticotropin and cortisone inhibit the production of thyroid hormone, although the mechanism of this inhibition is still in dispute (1, 2, 3). However, information concerning the influence of thyroid hormones on adrenocortical activity is conflicting. Evaluations of adrenocortical function in clinical hyperthyroidism, based on anatomic findings, have yielded contradictory reports. Marine (4) and LeCompte (5) reported a decrease in adrenal size in hyperthyroid patients. Hoist (6) found adrenal hyperplasia in a few such patients, and Means (7) found no remarkable change in the adrenals. Measurements of urinary steroid excretion have shown normal or low 17-ketosteroids (8–11) and low formaldehydogenic steroids (12) in hyperthyroidism. Plasma 17- hydroxycorticosteroid levels in a few hyperthyroid. patients have been in the normal range (13). In clinical myxedema the urinary excretions of 17-ketosteroids and 17- hydroxycorticosteroids are also frequently low (8–12, 14).