[Thyroid morphofunctional changes in various types of experimental chronic stress]

Structural and functional parameters of the thyroid were studied in mature rabbits, inducing stress by stimulating the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus or by exposing the animals to electrocutaneous irritations. Morphometric and radioimmunoassay results have revealed thyroid activation during the adaptation syndrome. Prolonged intensive stress was shown to cause a decrease in thyroid secretory activity, reflecting change of a stage of stable resistance by a phase of depletion of compensatory resources. However the nature of changes in the blood levels of thyroid and thyrotropic hormones in experimental animals have some characteristic features. A conclusion was made of the correlation between pathogenesis of the general adaptation syndrome and a methodological approach to simulation of a body tension reaction.