Partial hepatectomy alters serum hormone levels in rats.

The level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-L-triiodothyronine (T3), corticosterone, testosterone and insulin in serum were measured at 1, 12, 48 and 120 h after partial hepatectomy (PH) or sham operation in rats. After PH the level of ACTH and corticosterone was significantly elevated while that of TSH, T4 and testosterone was decreased and returned to the values found in sham operated animals within 5 days. The level of T3 was unchanged. These results show an increase in the function of pituitary-adrenal axis and a decrease in that of pituitary-thyroid axis shortly following PH with the tendency to return to normal function within five days.