Thyro-Adrenal Relationships in Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Summary and conclusions

Propylthiouracil administration to guinea pigs during the last few weeks of pregnancy induced pituitary hypertrophy, adrenal atrophy and marked thyroid hyperplasia in their offspring. Adrenal enlargement, without goiter formation, was found in the mothers. A reciprocal relationship was observed between mother and newborn (1–24 hours) regarding ascorbic acid and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid levels. Adrenal and ovarian ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly higher in neonatal guinea pigs, whereas corticosteroid values in maternal plasma and adrenal were 2–3 times greater than in the young. Fetal goitrogenesis did not basically alter the inverse relationship of these parameters of adrenocortical function.