[Thyroid hormones and the level of divalent iron ions in the rabbit liver]

Experimental hypothyreosis in animals was obtained by means of extirpation of thyroid gland; hyperthyreosis was obtained by thyroxine injections intraperitoneally for 10 days. Content of Fe2+ ions of the free pool (not bound with ferritine) was estimated with the ESR method, after treatment with sodium nitrite. A decrease in Fe2+ ions content is observed in liver homogenate of hypothyroid rabbits, and an increase is observed in that of the hyperthyroid animals. Content of Fe2+ ions in cells of liver tissues correlates with the oxidation capacity of the mitochondrial lipids. The changes in the rate of lipid peroxidation under thyroid pathology is supposed to result from changes in free ferrum content.