Abstract
Summary
1. A decrease in the concentration of hexosamine in orbital connective tissue is observed with increasing age in normal rats but is abolished following thyroidectomy. It can be reversed, however, by the administration of thyroxin. The concentration of connective tissue hexosamine in hypophysectomized rats is similar to controls of the same age and is unaffected by either small or large doses of thyroxin. Growth hormone, on the other hand, produces an increase in the amounts of connective tissue and hexosamine with no change in the concentration of hexosamine. 2. It is suggested that the concentration and amount of hexosamine in orbital connective tissue in the rat is determined by a balance between the production of hormones of thyroid and anterior pituitary (growth hormone). 3. The response of rat orbital connective tissue to thyroidectomy or to the administration of pituitary extract appears to be less sensitive than that in the guinea pig.
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