Sex, genetics, and the control of thyroxine and thyrotropin in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previously, we studied the genetic basis for variability in total thyroxine (TT4) as part of investigating induced Graves' hyperthyroidism in panels of genetically diverse recombinant inbred (RI) mice. Because Graves' disease occurs predominantly in women, we used female mice. A limitation of this approach is that thyrotropin (TSH) is undetectable by some assays in most female mice.

Method

Variation in levels of serum TSH, TT4, and free thyroxine (FT4) was measured in males from three related RI families (CXB, BXH, and AXBXA) followed by quantitative genetic analysis and mapping of these traits.

Results

In general, TSH levels were higher in males than females. FT4 levels were also higher in males than in females, but TT4 sex differences were absent or incon

SUBMITTER: McLachlan SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4080870 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature