Early inhibition and changes in diurnal rhythmicity of the pituitary-thyroid axis after superior cervical ganglionectomy of rats.

The effect of superior cervical ganglionectomy (SCGx) on the pituitary-thyroid axis was examined in rats. SCGx decreased serum thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) levels for up to 4 days after surgery, during and immediately after completion of anterograde degeneration of regional sympathetic terminals. At later times TSH levels in control and SCGx rats did not differ, but a significant increase of serum T4 was found two weeks after SCGx. A diurnal rhythm in serum TSH and T4 levels with maxima at 11.00 h (TSH) and at 14.00 and 22.00 h (T4) was found in sham-operated rats 3 days after surgery. At this time SCGx evoked a general depression of TSH levels as well as a shift of 3 h in their maximum. A similar shift of the afternoon peak and abolition of the nocturnal peak in serum T4 were detectable in SCGx rats. In SCGx animals examined during anterograde nerve degeneration, i.e. 14 h after surgery, injection of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocker phenoxybenzamine negated denervation-induced changes of TSH and counteracted partially T4 effects. The beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol did not modify serum TSH levels in SCGx rats but further decreased serum T4 concentration. Treatment with both drugs simultaneously did no affect TSH release compared to SCGx, phenoxybenzamine-treated rats but effectively decreased serum T4. These results further support the involvement of superior cervical ganglion neurons in the control of thyroid function.