Name: Natalie Innecken

Exercise 4: Endocrine System Physiology: Activity 1: Metabolism and Thyroid Hormone Lab Report
Pre-lab Quiz Results
You scored 50% by answering 3 out of 6 questions correctly.
1. Which of the following statements about metabolism is false?
Your answer : a. Anabolism refers to chemical reactions that build larger, more complex molecules.
Correct answer: d. All of the energy from metabolism is ultimately stored in the chemical bonds of ATP.
2. Thyroxine is
You correctly answered: c. the most important hormone for maintaining the metabolic rate and body temperature.
3. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is
You correctly answered: b. produced in the pituitary gland.
4. An injection of TSH to an otherwise normal animal will cause which of the following?
Your answer : b. increased levels of TRH secretion
Correct answer: d. goiter development
5. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is
You correctly answered: a. secreted by the hypothalamus.
6. Which of the following statements is true?
Your answer : a. TRH travels from the hypothalamus to the thyroid gland via the hypothalamic-thyroid portal system.
Correct answer: b. The hypothalamus primarily secretes tropic hormones that stimulate the secretion of other hormones.

01/13/14

page 1

Experiment Results
Predict Question:
Predict Question 1: Make a prediction about the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the remaining rats compared with the BMR
of the normal rat you just measured.
Your answer : b. The hypophysectomized (Hypox) rat's BMR will be higher than the normal rat's BMR.
Predict Question 2: What do you think will happen after you inject thyroxine into the three rats?
Your answer : d. The normal rat will become hyperthyroidic but will not develop a goiter.
Predict Question 3: What do you think will happen after you inject TSH into the three rats?
Your answer : a. The normal rat will become hyperthyroidic and develop a goiter.
Predict Question 4: Propylthiouracil (PTU) is a drug that inhibits the production of thyroxine by blocking the attachment of
iodine to tyrosine residues in the follicle cells of the thyroid gland (iodinated tyrosines are linked together to form thyroxine).
What do you think will happen after you inject PTU into the three rats?
Your answer : b. The thyroidectomized rat will become hypothyroidic and develop a goiter.
Stop & Think Questions:
1h. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 426 ml O2/hr
1i. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1704 ml O2/kg/hr
2h. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 372 ml O2/hr
2i. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr

01/13/14

page 2

Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1518.37 ml O2/kg/hr
3h. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 378 ml O2/hr
3i. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1549.18 ml O2/kg/hr
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800).
The normal rat is
You correctly answered: b. euthyroid
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800).
The thyroidectomized (Tx) rat is
You correctly answered: a. hypothyroid
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800).
The hypophysectomized (Hypox) rat is
You correctly answered: a. hypothyroid
4c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 504 ml O2/hr

01/13/14

page 3

4d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 2016 ml O2/kg/hr
5c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 462 ml O2/hr
5d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1885.71 ml O2/kg/hr
6c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 468 ml O2/hr
6d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1918.03 ml O2/kg/hr
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the thyroxine injection.
The normal rat is
You correctly answered: c. hyperthyroid

01/13/14

page 4

Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the thyroxine injection.
The thyroidectomized (Tx) rat is
You correctly answered: c. hyperthyroid
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the thyroxine injection.
The hypophysectomized (Hypox) rat is
You correctly answered: c. hyperthyroid
Which of the rats developed a goiter after injection with thyroxine (select all that apply)?
You correctly answered: d. None of the rats developed a goiter with this injection.
7c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 474 ml O2/hr
7d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1896 ml O2/kg/hr
8c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 372 ml O2/hr
8d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.

01/13/14

page 5

You answered: 1518.37 ml O2/kg/hr

9c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 468 ml O2/hr
9d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1918.03 ml O2/kg/hr
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the TSH injection.
The normal rat is
You correctly answered: c. hyperthyroid
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the TSH injection.
The thyroidectomized (Tx) rat is
You correctly answered: a. hypothyroid
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the TSH injection.
The hypophysectomized (Hypox) rat is
You correctly answered: c. hyperthyroid
Which of the rats developed a goiter after injection with TSH (select all that apply)?
You correctly answered: a. the normal rat c. the hypophysectomized rat
10c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 378 ml O2/hr

01/13/14

page 6

10d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1512 ml O2/kg/hr
11c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 384 ml O2/hr
11d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1567.35 ml O2/kg/hr
12c. Calculate the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat using the following equation.
ml O2 consumed/1 minute x 60 minutes/hour = ml O2/hour
Enter the oxygen consumption per hour in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab
Report.
You answered: 378 ml O2/hr
12d. Now that you have calculated the oxygen consumption per hour for this rat, you can calculate the metabolic rate per
kilogram of body weight with the following equation (note that you need to convert the weight data from grams to kilograms
to use this equation).
Metabolic rate = (ml O2/hr)/(weight in kg) = ml O2/kg/hr
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit Data to display your results in the Lab Report.
You answered: 1549.18 ml O2/kg/hr
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the PTU injection.
The normal rat is
You correctly answered: a. hypothyroid

01/13/14

page 7

Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the PTU injection.
The thyroidectomized (Tx) rat is
You correctly answered: a. hypothyroid
Judging from their basal metabolic rates (an indicator of thyroid function), categorize the rats as hypothyroid (low thyroid
levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid ("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high thyroid
levels; BMR above 1800) after the PTU injection.
The hypophysectomized (Hypox) rat is
You correctly answered: a. hypothyroid
Which of the rats developed a goiter after injection with PTU (select all that apply)?
You correctly answered: a. the normal rat
Experiment Data:
Rat

Weight (g)

ml O2/min

ml O2/hr

Tx
Normal
Hypox
Normal
Tx
Hypox
Normal
Tx
Hypox
Normal
Tx
Hypox

245
250
244
250
245
244
250
245
244
250
245
244

6.2
7.1
6.3
8.4
7.7
7.8
7.9
6.2
7.8
6.3
6.4
6.3

372.00
426.00
378.00
504.00
462.00
468.00
474.00
372.00
468.00
378.00
384.00
378.00

01/13/14

BMR
(ml O2/kg/hr)
1518.37
1704.00
1549.18
2016.00
1885.71
1918.03
1896.00
1518.37
1918.03
1512.00
1567.35
1549.18

page 8

Palpation

Injected

No Mass
No Mass
No Mass
No Mass
No Mass
No Mass
Mass
No Mass
Mass
Mass
No Mass
No Mass

none
none
none
thyroxine
thyroxine
thyroxine
TSH
TSH
TSH
ptu
ptu
ptu

Post-lab Quiz Results

You scored 57% by answering 4 out of 7 questions correctly.
1. How would you treat a thyroidectomized animal so that it functions like a "normal" animal?
You correctly answered: c. Provide the animal T4 supplements.
2. As a result of the missing hormone(s) in the hypophysectimized rat, what would be some expected symptoms?
Your answer: a. unexplained weight loss
Correct answer: d. decreased basal metabolic rate
3. An injection of thyroxine to an otherwise normal rat will cause which of the following?
You correctly answered: b. hyperthyroidism
4. Why didn't any of the rats develop a goiter after thyroxine injection?
You correctly answered: a. In all cases, TSH levels were not elevated by the thyroxine injection.
5. Why did the normal rat develop a palpable goiter with the TSH injection?
Your answer: a. The TSH receptors in the hypothalamus were overstimulated.
Correct answer: c. The TSH receptors on the thyroid gland were excessively stimulated.
6. An injection of propylthiouracil to an otherwise normal animal will cause which of the following?
You correctly answered: b. goiter development
7. Why did the normal rat develop a palpable goiter with the propylthiouracil injection?
Your answer: b. The amount of T4 secretion by the thyroid gland became excessive.
Correct answer: d. The injection decreased the negative feedback mechanism on TSH.

01/13/14

page 9

Review Sheet Results

1. Part 1: Determining the Basal Metabolic Rates
Which rat had the fastest basal metabolic rate (BMR)?
Your answer:
The normal rat, for it did not have a missing pituitary gland or thyroid glnad.
2. Why did the metabolic rates differ between the normal rat and the surgically altered rats? How well did the results
compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
The normal rat had the highest BMR due to its retention of the glands which are required to stimulate and regulate the
release of thyroid hormones.
3. If an animal has been thyroidectomized, what hormone(s) would be missing in its blood?
Your answer:
The animal would be missing the triiodythronine and thyroxine.
4. If an animal has been hypophysectomized, what effect would you expect to see in the hormone levels in its body?
Your answer:
One would expect the TSH to be missing due to the missing or removal of the pituitary gland.
5. Part 2: Determining the Effect of Thyroxine on Metabolic Rate
What was the effect of thyroxine injections on the normal rat's BMR?
Your answer:
The effect the thyroxine injection had on the normal rat was that it increased the metabolic rate but it was not enough to
develop a goiter.
6. What was the effect of thyroxine injections on the thyroidectomized rat's BMR? How does the BMR in this case compare
with the normal rat's BMR? Was the dose of thyroxine in the syringe too large, too small, or just right?
Your answer:
The effect of thyroxine injections on the Tx rat's BMR was that it increased. However the BMR was still lower than the
normal rats BMR, for the dosage was lower.
7. What was the effect of thyroxine injections on the hypophysectomized rat's BMR? How does the BMR in this case
compare with the normal rat's BMR? Was the dose of thyroxine in the syringe too large, too small, or just right?
Your answer:
The effect of thyroxine injections on the hypophysectomized rat's BMR was that it also increased. And its BMR though still
remained lower than the normal rat's since its dosage was lower.
8. Part 3: Determining the Effect of TSH on Metabolic Rate
What was the effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) injections on the normal rat's BMR?
Your answer:
TSH's effect on the normal rat's BMR was that it increased.
9. What was the effect of TSH injections on the thyroidectomized rat's BMR? How does the BMR in this case compare with
the normal rat's BMR? Why was this effect observed?

01/13/14

page 10

Your answer:
There was no TSH effect on the thyroidectomized rat for it did not have a thyroid gland to stimulate.
10. What was the effect of TSH injections on the hypophysectomized rat's BMR? How does the BMR in this case compare
with the normal rat's BMR? Was the dose of TSH in the syringe too large, too small, or just right?
Your answer:
The effect of TSH on the rat's BMR was that it increased.The BMR was just below the normal rat's and the syringe amount
was too small.

01/13/14

page 11