EFFECT OF RELAXIN ON THYROID FUNCTION IN THE RAT

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Abstract
SUMMARY: 1. Relaxin administered to intact female rats at oestrus stimulated an increase in 24 hr. uptake of 131I by the thyroid gland. 2. In oestrogen-treated spayed rats, relaxin stimulated increases in 24 hr. thyroidal uptake of 131I, thyroid weight and plasma PB131I to levels which were significantly higher than in the oestrogen treated controls. 3. The effect of relaxin on the thyroid was not observed in oestrogen-treated hypophysectomized female rats or in hypophysectomized rats on a maintenance dose of TSH. 4. It is concluded that relaxin causes an increase in size of the thyroid and uptake of radioactive iodine (RAI) in oestrogen-primed animals by means of an increased production of TSH. Two mechanisms by which TSH production may be stimulated under these experimental conditions are discussed.

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