Influence of Cortisone on Thyroid-Pituitary Interaction in Normal and Goitrous Rats. ∗

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions

1. Cortisone potentiates the effect of PTU on goitrogenesis in rats; a) thyroid and pituitary enlargement is greater than with goitrogen alone, and b) the respective changes in TSH levels of blood and pituitary are augmented. 2. The depressed avidity of thyroid tissue for I¹³¹ with PTU) is not influenced by cortisone. 3. The results suggest that the potentiating action of cortisone on goitrogenesis involves augmentation of TSH secretion from the adenohypophysis. The implications are briefly discussed.