Hyperglycemia isr Thyroidectomized Sheep 195 



95 (2055) 



A case of hyperglycemia in a thyroidectomized sheep. 



By A. BODANSKY, SUTHERLAND SIMPSON, and S. GOLDBERG. 



[From the Laboratory of Physiology and Biochemistry, Cornell 

 University Medical College, Ithaca, N. Y.\ 



A series of experiments was undertaken recently to determine 

 the effects of administration of thyroxin, thyroid extract, and 

 iodine upon thyroidectomized and normal sheep. A study of 

 the blood sugar was to form a part of the research. 



Preliminary examinations yielded the following typical data : 

 Normal sheep, 60-68 mgms. per 100 cc. ; thyroidectomized 

 sheep, 51-57 mgms. per 100 cc. The data for each sheep varied 

 within a narrower range. 



One thyroidectomized sheep (No. 11), the subject of this re- 

 port, showed a condition of hyperglycemia, instead of the typical 

 hypoglycemia. While the figures varied within a wider range, 

 they were all definitely above the normal level. Three successive 

 analyses yielded the following values : 78, 70, and 84 mgms. 

 per 100 cc. 



The effect of thyroxin upon No. 11 has been compared with 

 that upon normal and typical thyroidectomized sheep. The 

 effect upon normal sheep (1W) was immediate and gradual, 

 rising to a maximum of 84 mgms. per 100 cc on the 10th day. 

 One of the thyroidectomized sheep (No. 1) showed an imme- 

 diate rise from its basal figure of 55 mg. to 76 mg. per 100 cc, 

 continuing on to a maximum of 83 on the 5th day. Another 

 (No. 4) rose more gradually, and with fluctuations, to 71 mgms. 

 per 100 cc. on the 14th day. 



No. 11, the experimental cretin showing hyperglycemia, went 

 from his average of 77 mg. per 100 cc. to 86 mg., showing 87 

 mg. 3 days later and then dropping to a very much lower range 

 (53-71 mg. per 100 cc), again behaving atypically. 



A definite explanation of the hyperglycemia and the subse- 

 quent drop of blood sugar had to be deferred until a post mortem. 

 Hypertrophy of the adrenals or degeneration of the isles of 

 Langerhans were among the possibilities to be investigated. 



