EFFECT OF DI-ETHYL ETHER ANESTHESIA ON THYROID FUNCTION OF RATS: PITUITARY, ADRENAL AND THYROID RELATIONSHIP1

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Abstract
The possible role of the pituitary and adrenal hormones in the depressive effect of ether anesthesia on thyroid function in rats was studied. Di-ethyl ether anesthesia for two hours significantly depressed release of radioiodine (I131) from the thiouracil blocked thyroid gland in both bilateral adrenalectomized rats maintained with cortisone and in the bilateral adrenal-medullectomized rats. Administration of ether anesthesia depressed thyroidal uptake of radioiodine in the hypophy-sectomized rats treated with small doses of exogenous TSH, although no significant effect was noted in the absence of thyrotropin. Ether anesthesia inhibited the TSH-stimulated release of thyroidal I131 in the hypophysectomized rats. Recovery from this inhibition by ether was rapid and more marked when larger amounts of TSH were used. These findings indicate that the effect of di-ethyl ether anesthesia in rat thyroid was not mediated through the adrenal cortex or medulla. It is suggested that the ether anesthesia might influence thyroid function in rats by inhibiting the action of TSH or by a direct action on the thyroid.