The influence of stress on thyroid function in the rat.

The influence of stress and adrenalin, and later, of adrenal steroids on thyroid function in man and in experimental animals has interested investigators for many years. This interest arises from the requirement to elucidate and clarify physiological functions of the thyroid gland, the regulation of these functions, and the role of the thyroid in the homeostasis of the body and its reactions to stress. In addition the possible role of stress in the etiology and pathogenesis of diseases of the thyroid gland has been suspected for many years (1) and is currently the subject of several experiments