[The use of modern scintigraphic methods for the control of thyroid gland function in small laboratory animals]

In the present investigation modern scintigraphic methods like scanner- and gamma camera-techniques have been used for the first time to diagnose the thyroid function of small laboratory animals. Both methods have been tested on completely or partially iodine-resected rats. Because the results concerning the gamma camera could be quantified they could be compared to those of the gamma counter as a reference method. Assuming a linear relationship between both methods a correlation coefficient of r = 0.97 (n = 32) could be calculated. The capacity of both the scanner and the gamma camera was high enough to show even small amounts of residual thyroid tissue. Therefore both methods are extremely suitable for the diagnosis of the thyroid function. Using them as a control of the iodine-resection of the thyroidea a control group of animals is not necessary and, therefore, less animals are required. With regard to the narcosis of heavily hypothyroid animals it must be noted that the usually pentobarbital dosage must at least be reduced by one third.