Abstract
Summary
Thyroidectomy of weanling rats kept under normal dietary conditions results in initial prolonged retardation in production of polyploid nuclei in the liver, followed by gradual resumption of polyploid cell formation over long periods. The effect appears to be mediated, at least in part, through the pituitary, and polyploid shifts are greater than can be explained on the basis of absolute or relative liver weight, or liver growth rate. The liver cytology appears to be more sensitive to thyroid deficiency than the general growth of the animal, the time of greatest sensitivity for this study having been observed at 122 days of age.
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