William L. Money

CHEMICAL DERIVATIVES OF THYROID‐STIMULATING HORMONE PREPARATIONS*

Eleven years ago in a similar monograph published by the New York Academy of Sciences, Albert’ stated that Limost of the chemical reactions of TSH [thyrotropin, thyroid stimulating hormone] that have been reported are reactions of the hormone in impure state, and will have to be repeated when enough pure material becomes available.” Unfortunately, the same situation obtains today. Indeed, some may consider i t imprudent to study the reactions of a mixture of unknown composition. Notwithstanding this objection, we and others have obtained some useful information by studying the modification of TSH by various physicochemical techniques.

Cancer of the thyroid, goitrogenesis and thyroid function in syrian (golden) hamsters

Goitrogenesis and an increased frequency of cancer of the thyroid was induced by an iodine‐deficient rice diet or propylthiouracil. Goitrogenesis but not the occurrence of cancer of the thyroid was inhibited by supplementation of the rice diet with potassium iodide. Female hamsters were much more susceptible to goitrogenesis but not to cancer of the thyroid. Measures of thyroid function gave similar results in both sexes. Hamsters on the rice diet had normal serum PBI levels, markedly enhanced thyroidal affinity for 131I and subnormal or non‐detectable levels of serum inorganic‐iodide (I). Animals given propylthiouracil had subnormal levels of PBI, inconsistently subnormal thyroidal affinity for 131I and normal serum I. Serum calcium levels were subnormal in hamsters fed rice for 9 months or longer. The TSH‐dependent characteristics of thyroid tissue appear necessary for thyroid cancerogenesis but the relationship between marked hyperplasia, due to chronically high TSH levels, and the frequency of cancer of the thyroid is obscure for several reasons.

The effects of chemical derivatives of thyroid-stimulating hormone on the metamorphosis of Rana pipiens tadpoles☆

Abstract Thirty-nine different chemically modified derivatives of TSH preparations have been studied on metamorphosis of Rana pipiens tadpoles. The results indicate that derivatives prepared under a wide range of conditions show various degrees of metamorphosing ability when tested in the tadpole. None of the derivatives gave evidence of inhibiting simultaneously administered TSH, or preventing normal metamorphosis.