Effect of steroids on thyroid activity and adrenal morphology in tammar wallabies after removal of the corpus luteum

Abstract

1. 1. Plasma total thyroxine (TT4) levels and plasma free thyroxine (FT4) index were significantly lower in adult tammar wallabies ( Macropus eugenii) from which the corpus luteum had been removed than in sham-operated controls. 2. 2. Progesterone injections given for 14 days after corpus lutectomy significantly elevated the plasma free tri-iodothyronine (FT3) index, but had no effect on other thyroid parameters measured. 3. 3. Estrogen and androstenedione given for 14 days after corpus lutectomy had no significant effect on any of the thyroid parameters measured, although in both groups injected with these steroids, the histological appearance of the thyroid was suggestive of an increased activity. 4. 4. The adrenal weight, adrenal somatic index, adrenal cortex area, zona fasciculata width, and zona reticularis width were significantly larger in estrogen-injected corpus lutectomized wallabies than in oil-injected corpus lutectomized controls.