CANINE AND FELINE THYROID-FUNCTION ASSESSMENT WITH THE THYROTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE RESPONSE TEST

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (11) , 2310-2313
Abstract
A canine and feline pituitary-thyroid function test based on thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation of endogenous thyrotropin is described. Serum thyroxine is measured before and after stimulation with TRH. A positive response to tRH indicated a functionally intact pituitary-thyroid axis. At TRH doses of 0.002-10.0 mg/kg of body weight, dose response of serum thyroxine to TRH stimulation was determined. Increasing the dose of TRH increased the duration, but not the magnitude, of thyroxine stimulation. At TRH doses > 0.1 mg/kg, drug side effects were salivation, defecation, urination, vomition, miosis, tachycardia and tachypnea. A useful procedure for pituitary-thyroid function testing was serum thyroxine measurement before and 6 h after TRH (0.1 mg/kg) stimulation.