1961 Volume 8 Issue 4 Pages 259-271
Thyroidectomy markedly inhibited the weight increase of the salivary glands, especially the submaxillary glands of rats and the simultaneous administration of thyroxine to the thyroidectomized animals could make the salivary glands to recover the normal control level. Nucleic acid in the submaxillary glands was markedly decreased by thyroidectomy and recovered to its normal value by administration of thyroxine. The inhibition of the weight increase of the salivary glands caused by administration of antithyroid drugs; methylmercaptoimidazole or methylthiouracil, was also prevented by thyroxine. The study made to know the mode of action of methylmercaptoimidazole suggested that this antithyroid drug has no direct action on the salivary glands.
