Exercise 4: Endocrine System Physiology: Activity 1: Metabolism and Thyroid Hormone Lab Report

Pre-lab Quiz Results

You scored 100% by answering 6 out of 6 questions correctly.
1. Which of the following statements about metabolism is false?
You correctly answered: 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?
You correctly answered: 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?
You correctly answered: b. The hypothalamus primarily secretes tropic hormones that stimulate the secretion of other
hormones.

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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 : c. The BMR of both remaining rats will be lower 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 : d. The normal 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 to display your results in the grid.
You answered: 432 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 to display your results in the grid.
You answered: 1721.12 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 to display your results in the grid.
You answered: 378 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
Enter the metabolic rate in the field below and then click Submit to display your results in the grid.

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You answered: 1542.86 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 to display your results in the grid.
You answered: 384 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 to display your results in the grid.
You answered: 1567.35 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
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
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.

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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.
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
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
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

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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

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

251
245
245
251
245
245
251
245
245
251
245
245

7.2
6.3
6.4
8.5
7.9
7.7
8
6.4
7.8
6.3
6.3
6.3

432
378
384
510
474
462
480
384
468
378
378
378

BMR
(ml O2/kg/hr)
1721.12
1542.86
1567.35
2032
1935
1886
1912
1567
1910
1506
1543
1543

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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 100% by answering 7 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?
You correctly answered: 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?
You correctly answered: 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?
You correctly answered: d. The injection decreased the negative feedback mechanism on TSH.

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Review Sheet Results

1. Part 1: Determining the Basal Metabolic Rates
Which rat had the fastest basal metabolic rate (BMR)?
Your answer:
la tasa metabolica mas alta se registro cuando se inyecto tiroxina a la rata normal, porque ademas de su produccion normal
de esta, se le suministro la hormona
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:
Las ratas no normales no podian sintetizar la hormona por lo tanto,tendrian una tasa metabolica baja ,en comparacion con
la normal que si puede sintetizar tiroxina.
los resultados se compararon bien a mis predicciones ,en todos
por los resultados las ratas Tx e Hypox tubieron respectivamente 1543 y 1568 menores a 1722 de la normal

3. If an animal has been thyroidectomized, what hormone(s) would be missing in its blood?
Your answer:
faltaria la tiroxina o t4 , al no existir la glandula tiroidea que la sintetice
4. If an animal has been hypophysectomized, what effect would you expect to see in the hormone levels in its body?
Your answer:
Sus niveles hormonales disminuyen, por falta de las hormonas estimulantes
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:
la tiroxina aplicada , incremento la tasa metabolica de 1721 a 2032 ml7o27hr ,la rata normal se volvi hipertiroidica y no
desarrollo bocio
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:
-En las ratas tiroidectomizada la inyeccion de tiroxina elevo su tasa metabolica de 1543 a 1935
-En la rata normal incrmento el nivel de tiroxina en sangre,elevo la tasa metabolica ,se dio la retroalimentacion y no hubo
bocio;En la rata tiroidectomizada la inyeccion de tiroxina elevo su tasa metablica pero no desarrollo bocio porque no se
elevo el nivel de TSH, y como no tiene tiroides nunca podria darse el bocio.
- creo que fue alta la inyeccion
- Despues de inyectarse tiroxina a la tres ratas se incrmenta su tasa metablica ,ninguna desarrolla bocio,porque no hay
incremento de TSH.

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:

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-En las ratas hipofisectomizada la inyeccion de tiroxina elevo su tasa metabolica de 1567 a 1886
-En la rata normal incrmento el nivel de tiroxina en sangre,elevo la tasa metabolica ,se dio la retroalimentacion y no hubo
bocio; En la rata hipofisectomizada la inyeccion de tiroxina elevo su tasa metablica pero no desarrollo bocio porque no se
elevo el nivel de TSH, y como tiene hipofisis no puede estimular a la tiroides
- creo que fue alta la inyeccion

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:
-En la rata normal la TSH aplicada estimulo la tiroides haciendoque se produzca tiroxina en exceso, que causo que la rata
normal eleve su tasa metabolica de 1721 a 1912 pasando los 1800 , llegando a tener hipertiroidismo y desarrolle bocio.
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?
Your answer:
- En la rata de tiroidectomizada la aplicacion de TSH no tuvo efecto por carecer de la tirodes, no se presento mayor tiroxina
por lo tanto no hubo incremento en la tasa metablica del animal.
- La tasa metabolica permanecio constante

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:
- La TSH inyectada a la rata hipofisectomizada, estimula produccin de tiroxina en la tiroides esto elevo la tasa metabolica
de la rata de 1567 a 1910 ,generandole incremento de masa en la glandula , bocio
- la dosis fue alta en mi opinion

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