Congenital goiter was reported in a number of herds of Afrikander cattle in the 1950's. Some affected animals were assembled and maintained as a closed herd. Although considerable biochemical research into the nature of the disease has been conducted, no definitive report has described the mode of inheritance of the defect. This paper presents the results of breeding studies that indicate the defect is inherited as an autosomal recessive. Southern blot analysis of the thyroglobulin gene confirms this finding. In addition, serum levels of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone, thyrotropin), T3 (3,4,3'-tri-iodothyronine), T4 (thyroxine), rT3 (3,3',5'-tri-iodothyronine), and DIT (diiodotyrosine) of goitrous animals are compared with normal animals.

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Serial analyses of serum PBI and serum lipids have been carried out on baboons during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and lactation. One baboon aborted in the course of pregnancy.The serum PBI is markedly elevated throughout pregnancy in the baboon (from 4\ m=. \ 1\ m=+-\ 0\m=.\3\ g=m\ g/ 100 ml. to 5\m=.\4\ m=+-\ 0\m=.\9 \g=m\g/100 ml . ),whereas all the serum lipid fractions decrease significantly: cholesterol from a mean value of 138 \m=+-\80 to 118 \m=+-\11\m=.\8 mg/100 ml., and lipid phosphorus from 9\m=.\6\m=+-\0\m=.\8to 8\m=.\2\m=+-\0\m=.\4 mg/100 ml. (means \m=+-\2s.d.).After parturition the PBI decreases to the original level of 4\m=.\4\ m=+-\ 0\m=.\7 \g=m\g/100 ml., whereas all lipid fractions increase (639 \ m=+-\ 26\m=.\3 mg/100 ml. total lipids, 169 \m=+-\7\m=.\3 mg/100 ml. cholesterol and 11\m=.\2\ m=+-\1\m=.\5 mg/100 ml. lipid phosphorus). The cholesterol/lipid phosphorus (C/P) ratio seems to rise slightly from 14\m=.\4\m=+-\1\m=.\1 during the menstrual cycle, to 14\m=.\9\m=+-\1\m=.\4in pregnancy and to 15\m=.\2\ m=+-\ 1\ m=. \ 9in lactation.The patterns of serum PBI and lipid before or after abortion in one baboon were similar to those observed during normal pregnancy and lactation.While serum lipids in the pregnant baboon follow a pattern which is the reverse of that described in human pregnancy, the serum PBI pattern is similar to that of women.Serial analyses over a period of about 4 years carried out by the author have revealed the importance of individual patterns of serum lipids and to a lesser extent of serum PBI during the reproductive cycle in the baboon. Such individuality is reflected not