Mutant cats were developed with non-goitrous primary hypothyroidism. They were clinically characterized by severely retarded growth, mild anaemia and high mortality in the young. They responded markedly to thyroid hormone replacement. Thyroid glands in the mutants were normal in position but slightly reduced in size. Laboratory studies revealed low serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3), and increased serum concentrations of TSH. Administration of TRH induced no further increase in TSH. Administration of exogenous TSH after suppression of endogenous TSH by T3 did not increase the serum concentration of T4 in the mutants, in sharp contrast with the threefold increase in serum T4 observed in the normal litter-mates. These findings suggest that the underlying pathogenesis of this disorder is unresponsive to TSH. Moreover, we found that the mutants were transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner.

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