Effect of Thyroxine on Spontaneous Nephrosis in the Rat. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Long-term administration of thyroxine to adult rats at a level that produced a 50% increase in O₂ consumption, increased the severity of spontaneous nephrosis and proteinuria. The amount of excreted protein corresponded roughly with severity of renal lesions. The electrophoretic pattern of the urinary proteins of untreated or treated rats resembled that of the serum proteins. Hyperglobulinemia was present in both untreated and treated rats, but to a lesser degree in 600-day-old thyroxine-treated animals with greatest proteinuria and elevated BUN values. In the latter rats serum albumin was reduced too. Hypercholesterolemia was greater in treated rats than in untreated ones. Kidney, heart, and adrenal weights were also higher in animals receiving thyroxine, whereas body weight was lower.