Factors affecting the serum thyroid hormone concentration during fasting in rats--with special reference to the relation with temperature

Abstract

The present studies examine the effect of starvation together with cold or hot exposure on thyroid hormone levels in rats. At 23 degrees C starved for 5 days, serum thyroid hormone levels decreased significantly compared with fed rats, averaging 3.6 +/- 0.5 micrograms/dl of thyroxine (T4), 47 +/- 11 ng/dl of triiodothyronine (T3), 1.4 +/- 0.3 ng/dl of free T4 and 39.6 +/- 5.1 pg/ml of reverse T3, respectively. At 15 degrees C rats starved for 5 days, serum free T4 level significantly more increased than that of 23 degrees C starved rats, while serum T4 level and T3 did not increase significantly. At 30 degrees C rats whether concomitant starvation or not, serum thyroid hormone levels of both group markedly more decreased than control rats. These experiment provide additional evidence that thyroid gland and the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormone respond to variety situations such as cold or hot exposure together with starvation or not.