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THYROID COLLECTION OF RADIOACTIVE IODIDE AND SERUM PROTEIN-BOUND IODINE CONCENTRATION IN SENESCENCE, IN HYPOTHYROIDISM AND IN HYPOPITUITARISM*

1949; Oxford University Press; Volume: 9; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1210/jcem-9-5-430

1945-7197

Martin Perlmutter, D. S. Riggs,

Thyroid Disorders and Treatments

IN normal senescence, there is a gradual reduction in basal metabolic rate as well as a decrease in basal body temperature (1). These phenomena have been attributed to decreased activity of the thyroid gland in the aged. Anatomic studies have revealed atrophy of the acini, decrease in the colloid and iodine content, and decrease in the number of dividing cells in the senile gland as compared to the gland of young adults (2). Thus there is both clinical and morphologic evidence to suggest decreased thyroid activity in the senile individual. Although there has been much speculation as to the cause of senile “hypothyroidism,” no experimental data have been presented to elucidate this aspect of the problem. Primary failure of the thyroid to supply adequate hormone has been considered to be the cause of this hypometabolic state (2, 3). Others have postulated that pituitary hypofunction is the primary cause (1).