Thyroparathyroidectomy procedures and thyroxine levels in the chinchilla

Thyroid and embedded parathyroid glands were surgically removed (thyroparathyroidectomized) from adult chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger) to create an animal model of hypothyroidism. Thyroxine (T4) levels were measured at the time of surgery and one or two times after surgery from 10 thyroparathyroidectomized chinchillas and five sham controls to establish baseline serum T4 levels and to assess the degree and duration of hypothyroidism in this animal model. Baseline T4 levels ranged from 3.4 to 6.4 microg/dl (mean +/- 1 standard deviation, 5.25 +/- 0.84 microg/dl), with no differences between male and female chinchillas (5.4 +/- 0.6 microg/dl versus 5.2 +/- 1.0 microg/dl, respectively). T4 levels were significantly reduced in 80% of thyroparathyroidectomized chinchillas when measured 6 to 14 days after surgery, but reductions were variable, ranging from 9 to 89% in individual animals. There was rapid regrowth of thyroid tissue and a return of T4 levels to the baseline range in five of the seven animals followed for 1 to 2 months after surgery. T4 levels increased significantly in the sham-operated chinchillas, indicating a nonspecific effect of surgery. The results establish surgical procedures for creating a model of variable, transient hypothyroidism in the chinchilla. We also summarize published basal T4 values for various laboratory animals, to provide a convenient reference.