Abstract
A series of experiments was undertaken recently to determine the effects of administration of thyroxin, thyroid extract, and iodine upon thyroidectomized and normal sheep. A study of the blood sugar was to form a part of the research.
Preliminary examinations yielded the following typical data: Normal sheep, 60-68 mgms. per 100 cc.; thyroidectomized sheep, 51-57 mgms. per 100 c.c. The data for each sheep varied within a narrower range.
One thyroidectomized sheep (No. 11), the subject of this report, showed a condition of hyperglycemia, instead of the typical hypoglycemia. While the figures varied within a wider range, they were all definitely above the normal level. Three successive analyses yielded the following values: 78, 70, and 84 mgms. per 100 c.c.
The effect of thyroxin upon No. 11 has been compared with that upon normal and typical thyroidectomized sheep. The effect upon normal sheep (1W) was immediate and gradual, rising to a maximum of 84 mgms. per 100 c.c. on the 10th day. One of the thyroidectomized sheep (No. 1) showed an immediate rise from its basal figure of 55 mg. to 76 mg. per 100 c.c., continuing on to a maximum of 83 on the 5th day. Another (No. 4) rose more gradually, and with fluctuations, to 71 mgms. per 100 c.c. on the 14th day.
No. 11, the experimental cretin showing hyperglycemia, went from his average of 77 mg. per 100 c.c. to 86 mg., showing 87 mg. 3 days later and then dropping to a very much lower range (53-71 mg. per 100 c.c.), again behaving atypically.
A definite explanation of the hyperglycemia and the subsequent drop of blood sugar had to be deferred, until a post mortem. Hypertrophy of the adrenals or degeneration of the isles of Langerhans were among the possibilities to be investigated.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.