Effect of Thyroidectomy and of Several Goitrogens on β-Glucuronidase Activity and Insulin Levels of Rats

Abstract

Thyroidectomized rats present lower plasma β-glucuronidase activity than age-paired controls. A very small daily dose of L-thyroxine (0.2 µg/100 g body wt.) which reinitiated growth in thyroidectomized rats increased their plasma β-glucuronidase activity toward the values of age-paired controls. Hypothyroidism induced by different drugs decreased the plasma activity of the enzyme. Animals on KCI04 had the lowest values and were comparable to those observed in thyroidectomized rats. However rats on PTU and KSCN showed higher values than the KCIO₄ treated rats, although they were lower than those of the controls. The same change to β-glucuronidase was observed in plasma insulin levels.