ALTERED 3,5,3'-TRIIODOTHYRONINE THYROXINE RATIO IN EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED KWASHIORKOR AND OBESITY IN RATS

The plasma triiodothyronine (T-3) and thyroxine (T-4) ratios have been evaluated in kwashiorkor and diet-induced obese weaned rats. The conc entrations of T-3 and T-4 were determined in plasma by radio-immunoass ay. A significant decrease in T-3 level in the order kwashiorkor < obe se < control was observed. However T-4 concentration was more elevated (P< 0.01) in the obese than the normal controls, while more significa ntly depressed (P< 0.001) in the kwashiorkor than in control animals. The T-3/T-4 ratio decreased in the order obese < kwashiorkor < control . It was concluded from these studies that kwashiorkor and diet-induce d obesity not only interfere with the absolute concentration of the th yroid hormones but also alter the T-3/T-4 ratio. The altered T-3 and T -4 ratio perhaps contributes to the maintenance of the isoenergetic st ate rather than to the promotion of negative or positive energy balanc e in and kwashiorkor and obese subjects respectively.