Endocrine System Physiology

Lab Report

Name ________________________

Answer the following questions from PhysioEx 8.0 using this form. All answers must be typed.
CHART 1
Baseline
Weight
ml O2 / min
ml O2 / hr
ml O2 / kg / hr
With thyroxine
Weight
ml O2 / min
ml O2 / hr
ml O2 / kg / hr
With TSH
Weight
ml O2 / min
ml O2 / hr
ml O2 / kg / hr
With propyl.
Weight
ml O2 / min
ml O2 / hr
ml O2 / kg / hr

Normal Rat
250
7.1
426
1704

Thyroidectomized
245
6.4
384
1567.35

Hypophysectomized
244
6.2
372
1524.59

250
8.3
498
4992

245
7.8
468
1910

244
7.9
474
1943

250
8.1
486
1944

245
6.3
378
1543

244
7.8
468
1918

250
6.2
372
1488

245
6.4
384
1567

244
6.2
372
1525

Activity 1. Metabolism and Thyroid Hormone

1. How did the metabolic rates of the three rats at BASELINE differ?
a. The normal rat was eurothyroid at baseline. The throidectomized rat was
hypothyroid at baseline. The hypophsectomized rat was hypothyroid at baseline. .
The range being hypothyroid (low thyroid levels; BMR below 1600), euthyroid
("good," or normal, thyroid levels; BMR = 1650-1750), or hyperthryoid (high
thyroid levels; BMR above 1800).
2. What caused the BASELINE metabolic rates to differ?
a. One of the rats was normal, the second had its thyroid removed, and the third had
its pituitary gland removed. They are an important part in hormone secretion to
raise and lower BMR.
3. If an animal has been thyroidectomized, what hormone(s) of the hypothalamus-pituitarythyroid axis would be missing from its blood and which ones might circulate at higher
than normal concentrations?
a. Thyroxine and Calcitonin would be missing from its blood.
4. Explain the conclusion you made in #3 above.
a. This is because these hormones are what are secreted by the thyroid. Since the
thyroid is removed in a thyroidectomized rat, these

5. As a result of the missing hormone(s), what would be the overall effect on the body be?
a. The overall effect of the body would be hypothyroid. The BMR would be under
the normal range.
6. How could you treat a thyroidectomized animal so that it functioned like a normal
animal?
7. If an animal has been hypophysectomized, what effect would you expect to see in the
hormone levels of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis circulating in the blood?
a. Since the pituitary gland has been removed, the hormone levels with go down
with no ability to produce TSH.
8. What would be the effect of a hypophysectomy on the metabolism of an animal?
a. The metabolic level would go down since there is no pituitary gland to produce
TSH and stimulate the thyroid into producing thyroxine (T4).
Activity 2. Determining the Effect of Thyroxine on Metabolic Rate
1. What was the effect of exogenous thyroxine administration on the normal rats metabolic
rate?
a. The metabolic rate was raised in the normal rat. This made the rat hyperthyroid.
2. Explain why this effect was seen?
a. This effect was seen due to an excess of thyroxine in its body.
3. What was the effect of thyroxine replacement on the thyroidectomized rats metabolic
rate?
a. The thyroidectomized rat had a BMR of 1910 with the thyroixine replacement.
The rat became hyperthyroid, but it did not develop a goiter.
4. Why was this effect seen?
a. This effect was seen because too much thyroxine was added to the rat.
5. What was the effect of exogenous thyroxine administration on the hypophysectomized
rats metabolic rate?
a. The hypophysectomized rat had a BMR of 1943 with the thyroixine replacement.
The rat became hyperthyroid, but it did not develop a goiter.
6. Why was this effect seen?
a. This effect was seen because too much thyroxine was added to the rat.
Activity 3: Determining the Effect of TSH on Metabolic Rate
1.

What was the effect of exogenous TSH administration on the normal rats metabolic
rate?
a. The metabolic was raised to 1944. Although it is lower than the metabolic rate of
the exogenous thyroxine administration of the normal rat, a goiter developed.

2. Why was this effect seen?

a. This effect is seen since there was an overproduction of the TSH hormone and so
too much thyroxine was produced. This is what caused the goiter to form.
3. What was the effect of exogenous TSH administration on the thyroidectomized rats
metabolic rate?
a. The metabolic rate in the thyroidectomized rat was lowered.
4. Why was this effect seen?
a. Since the thyroid is not present, there is no thyroid for the TSH to stimulate. With
no thyroid to simulate, thyroxine is not being produced. This means that the
metabolic rate is lower since there is no thyroxine to regulate it.
5. What was the effect of exogenous TSH administration on the hypophysectomized rats
metabolic rate?
a. The rat became hyperthyroid with a raised metabolic rate and developed a goiter.
6. Why was this effect seen?
a. This effect was seen because the rat overproduced thyroxine. This was because
the rat still had its thyroid. The thyroid was stimulated by the TSH hormone into
producing thyroxine. The TSH injection was too much so thyroxine was
overproduced.
Activity 4: Determining the Effect of Propylthiouracil on Metabolic Rate
1. What was the effect of propylthiouracil administration on the normal rats metabolic rate?
a. The metabolic rate was lowered and mass was produced.
2. Why was this effect seen?
a. Since propylthiouracil inhibits the production of thyroxine, the metabolic rate
was lowered.
3. What was the effect of propylthiouracil administration on the thyroidectomized rats
metabolic rate?
a. The metabolic rate was lowered to 1567 and the rat is hypothyroid.
4. Why was this effect seen?
a. Since propylthiouracil inhibits the production of thyroxine, the metabolic rate
was lowered.
5. What was the effect of propylthiouracil administration on the hypophysectomized rats
metabolic rate?
a. The metabolic rate was lowered to 1525. The rat became hypothyroid.
6. Why was this effect seen?
a. Since propylthiouracil inhibits the production of thyroxine, the metabolic rate
was lowered.
Activity 5. Hormone Replacement Therapy

Record your rats T scores:

T score control _-2.82_
T score estrogen _-1.56_
T score calcitonin _-2.05_
1.

In the first ovariectomized rat, what was the effect of administering estrogen injections
on the rats T score?
a. By adding estrogen to the rat, the T score raised to -1.56. This indicates that the
rat is now osteopenia (bone thinning).

2. In the second ovariectomized rat, what was effect of administering calcitonin on the rats
T score?
a. By injecting calcitonin, the T score rose to -2.05. This indicates that the rat is
now osteopenia and no longer indicates osteoporosis. The calcitonin inhibited
osteoclast activity and stimulated calcium uptake and deposition in long bones.
3. What might be the effect if testosterone had been administered instead of estrogen?
a. There would be no change in bone density.
4. Explain your answer.
a. The reason for bone density loss in women is the lack of production of estrogen,
not testosterone.
Activity 8: Measuring Cortisol and Adrenocorticotropic hormones. Use the knowledge
gained from activity 8 to answer the following questions.
Record your data from activity 8 below. CIRCLE whether your measured level for cortisol and
ACTH was either high or low.
Patient 1: Cortisol _3.06_mcg/dl
ACTH _18.38_pg/ml

HIGH
HIGH

LOW
LOW

Patient 2: Cortisol _31.80_mcg/dl

ACTH _12.03_pg/ml

HIGH
HIGH

LOW
LOW

Patient 3: Cortisol _45.33_mcg/dl

ACTH _87.06_pg/ml

HIGH
HIGH

LOW
LOW

Patient 4: Cortisol _3.87_mcg/dl

ACTH _102.12_pg/ml

HIGH
HIGH

LOW
LOW

Patient 5: Cortisol _52.84_mcg/dl

ACTH _16.50_pg/ml

HIGH
HIGH

LOW
LOW

1. Which patient would most likely be diagnosed with Cushings disease?

a. Patients 3 would most likely be diagnosed with Cushings disease.
2. Explain your diagnosis.
a. This because patient 3 has nigh levels of cortisol and ACTH.

3. Which two patients have hormone levels characteristic of Cushings syndrome?

a. Patients 2 and 5 have hormone levels characteristic of Cushings syndrome. This
is due to their high levels of cortisol and low ACTH. These levels show
characteristics of Cushings syndrome.
4. Patient 2 is being treated for rheumatoid arthritis with prednisone. How does this change
your diagnosis?
a. Patient 2s diagnosis would change to iatrogenic or physician-induced Cushings
syndrome. This is due to the patient being treated with the steroid prednisone.
This can result in hyperglycemia.
5. Which patient would most likely be diagnosed with Addisons disease?
a. Patient 4 would be diagnosed with Addisons disease.
6. How do you know? EXPLAIN
a. This is due to the level of ACTH being high and the cortisol level being low.

Blood Glucose: Glucose Tolerance Test

1. Construct a graph similar to the one below with the following modifications:
You will have only 3 time data points for your graph (0, 1 hour, 2 hours):
You will graph 4 sets of data (Note: connect the dots using a different color or pattern of lines for
each set of data. You can use MS excel.
A. Your glucose tolerance results (baseline, 1hr, 2 hr)
B. Average for all class females: (baseline, 1hr; 2hr)
C. Average for all class males: (baseline; 1hr, 2hr)
D. Average for the entire class: (baseline, 1hr, 2hr)

OGTT Graph
180
160
140
120
100

Serum Glucose (mg/dL)

80
60
40
20
0
Baseline

1 hour glucose

2 hour glucose

Time
My Gluose Tolerance Results

Average Female Glucose Tolerance Results

Average Male Tolerace Results

Class Average Glucose Tolerance Result

2. Explain what causes the blood glucose level (if the OGTT was conducted under fasting
conditions) to return to near normal within one hour of a significant glucose load.
3. Why is having continuous hyperglycemia (over 180 mg/dL blood) for a prolonged period of
time (years) dangerous to the body? Be sure to address end organ damage.
4. What are some signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)?
5. What are possible causes and treatments of hyperglycemia?
6. What are some signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)?
7. What are possible causes and treatments of hypoglycemia?
Example of a graph showing OGTT data