EFFECTS OF FEEDING THIOURACIL AND/OR THYROID POWDER UPON PUBIC SYMPHYSEAL SEPARATION IN FEMALE MICE1

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Abstract
Thiouracil or thyroid powder added to a Purina fox chow diet markedly reduced the extent of pubic symphyseal separation in the 19-day pregnant mouse. Similarly, in nulliparous mice, thiouracil, administered for a period of 44 days, inhibited the symphyseal response to exogenous relaxin in direct proportion to the dose. Thyroid powder, on the contrary, enhanced elongation of the interpubic ligament in the nongravid mouse. The data indicate that the influences of thiouracil upon interpubic ligament elongation are not direct drug effects, but rather appear to result from altered thyroid gland activity. The data further suggest that, although ovarian hormonal inbalances might be created by abnormal thyroid secretion, the effects of altered thyroid gland activity upon pubic symphyseal responses to relaxin are not mediated by the ovary, but rather appear to be either direct influences of the thyroid gland or reflections of the general physical condition of the animal.