Certain aspects of the biochemistry of the thyroid gland
have been studied. The techniques of filter paper chromatography
and radioautography were used to separate and identify the
iodine-containing amino acids of the gland, and were modified
somewhat, in order to obtain reliable results.
Although a series of preliminary experiments were performed
with the thyroid glands of rats in vivo, the main part of this
work made use of the in vitro technique. Surviving tissue slices
were incubated in the presence of the radioactive tracer,
iodine131. Evidence was obtained which indicated that at least
two of the amino acids found "free" in the thyroid gland were
degraded by the gland to inorganic iodide.
The mechanism of action of a number of thyroid gland inhibitors was investigated. It was found that all but two of the
materials studied led to the formation in the tissue slices of
unidentified iodine—containing materials with the simultaneous
disappearence of inorganic iodide. Hence, at least a part of the
goitrogenic nature of these inhibitors would appear to be due to the "removal" of iodide.
It was found chat one portion of the inhibition caused by
3 - fluorotyrosine could be "reversed" in vitro with tyrosine,
interesting sex variations in thyroid gland activity were observed
during these experiments. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/29266 |
| Date | 10 1900 |
| Creators | Fawcett, David MacIndoo |
| Contributors | Kirkwood, S., Biochemistry |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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