Effect of thyrotropin storage on thyroid-stimulating hormone response testing in normal dogs

The stability of reconstituted, refrigerated thyrotropin was evaluated. Thyrotropin (TSH) was reconstituted at the start of the study and stored at 4 degrees C. A TSH stimulation test was performed in eight healthy, euthyroid dogs at weekly intervals for 1 month. In seven of eight dogs, there was no significant difference (P less than 0.05) between the post-TSH T3 concentrations and the post-TSH T4 concentrations for the duration of the study. For one dog, the post-TSH T4 concentration was below the normal post-TSH T4 range following the administration of reconstituted TSH that had been stored 4 weeks. The T3 response to the TSH, however, was normal. This dog responded normally to freshly reconstituted TSH. The results of this study suggest that reconstituted bovine TSH can be stored at 4 degrees C for at least 3 weeks without loss of biologic activity in the dog.