Serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations in weanling horses fed carbohydrate by direct gastric infusion.

Plasma glucose and serum insulin, thyroxine, and triiodothyronine concentrations were monitored in 6 weanling Thoroughbreds after direct gastric infusion of solutions containing sucrose or casein. Neither plasma glucose nor serum hormone concentrations were affected by infusions of water or by infusions of 326 or 424 g of casein/250 kg of body weight. However, glucose and hormone concentrations increased significantly (P less than 0.001) after infusions of 649 or 844 g of sucrose/250 kg. Initial rates of increase were more rapid and increases were subsequently reversed more rapidly when 844 g of sucrose/250 kg was infused than when 649 g of sucrose/250 kg was infused. Soluble carbohydrate in the digestive tract triggered specific responses in the serum thyroid hormone concentrations of weanling horses. Magnitudes and durations of these responses appeared to depend on the amount of carbohydrate present.