Hypercholesterolemic Effect of Testosterone in the Hypothyroid Chicken[*]

Abstract

Propylthiouracil (PTU)-fed and radiothyroidectomized (RT) chicks were used to study the role of thyroid hormones in the effect of testosterone on plasma cholesterol level. Results showed that testosterone had either no effect or it decreased plasma cholesterol level in the control euthyroid chicks, but it significantly increased the plasma cholesterol level both in the PTU-fed or RT hypothyroid chicks. The work suggests that the effect of testosterone on cholesterol metabolism in the chick is mediated through the thyroid gland.

Key words

Chicken - Propylthiouracil - Radiothyroidectomy - Hypothyroidism - Testosterone - Hypercholesterolemia

1 This work was supported by USPHS grants HD-00204 and AM-01266.

1 This work was supported by USPHS grants HD-00204 and AM-01266.

2 Present address: Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York 132 10.