Advertisement
Concise Publication Free access | 10.1172/JCI107212
St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical School, Boston and the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and the Harvard Medical Service, Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Find articles by Vagenakis, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical School, Boston and the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and the Harvard Medical Service, Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Find articles by Downs, P. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical School, Boston and the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and the Harvard Medical Service, Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Find articles by Braverman, L. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical School, Boston and the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and the Harvard Medical Service, Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Find articles by Burger, A. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical School, Boston and the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and the Harvard Medical Service, Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Find articles by Ingbar, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Published February 1, 1973 - More info
The administration of exogenous iodides (saturated solution of potassium iodide, SSKI) to normal male volunteers resulted in a significant decrease in the serum concentration of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) and a significant increase in serum concentration of thyrotropin (TSH). During the control period (phase I), serum concentrations of T4 averaged 6.9±1.8 μg/100 ml (mean ±SD), T3 106±15 ng/100 ml, and TSH 3.7±1.3 μU/ml. During the administration of 1 drop of SSKI twice daily for 11 days (phase II), there was a small but significant decrease in the serum concentration of T4 and T3 (5.8±1.6 μg/100 ml and 91±19 ng/100 ml, respectively) and a small but significant increase in the serum concentration of TSH (6.0±3.5 μU/ml). During the administration of 5 drops of SSKI twice daily (phase III) over the following 12-19 days, these changes persisted, except for a small increase in the serum concentration of T3 (97±20 ng/100 ml), which was statistically significant when compared to values obtained during phase II. Values returned to control levels 14 days after withdrawal of SSKI. Almost all these observed changes took place within the limits of the normal range. It is postulated that, in euthyroid individuals, iodides specifically inhibit release of T4 and probably of T3. The resulting slight decrease in values for serum T4 and T3 elicits a small increase in TSH secretion which, it is postulated, antagonizes the inhibition of hormone release induced by iodides. As a result, a new equilibrium is reached which maintains the euthyroid state.