Abstract
The effect of irradiation on the goitrogenic activity of cabbage was recently reported by Webster. 1 The cabbage employed by Webster possessed some goitrogenic activity before irradiation.
The experiment here reported were undertaken to see whether prolonged irradiation of a non-goitrogenic variety of cabbage would make it goitrogenic. All the cabbage used was obtained from the same source. It was finely hashed, spread out in layers 1 to 2 cm. thick, and irradiated for 30, 60, or 120 minutes at a distance of 50 cm. with a Cooper-Hewitt mercury vapor lamp, ultra-violet limits 2252-2224 A.U. One week before cabbage feeding was begun the thyroid glands of all animals were examined under ether anesthesia, and each animal was injected subcutaneously with 5 mg. KI to produce uniform involution of the thyroid. The cabbage was fed in quantities equivalent to 60 calories/kg. per day. This constituted the only food for the first 12 weeks. In the last 6 weeks of the experiment 50 gm. of oats were given to each animal once a week. After 18 weeks of cabbage feeding, the animals were killed, and the thyroid glands were weighed.
The results (Table I) indicate that the prolonged feeding of cabbage which is originally not goitrogenic, and is irradiated in the manner described does not produce thyroid enlargement. Non-goitrogenic cabbage, therefore, does not seem to contain the precursors of a goitrogenic substance that can be synthesized by prolonged irradiation under the conditions stated for this experiment.
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