Thyroidal iodine and thyroglobulin in hibernating and active Richardson's ground squirrels Spermophilus richardsoni

Thyroidal iodine, protein and thyroglobulin (TG) were investigated in a hibernator, Spermophilus richardsoni, sampled in the field and from laboratory-held winter colonies. In field animals, thyroidal iodine and protein contents were similar at onset of hibernation and at terminal arousal. Iodine content was increased in laboratory-held animals, a function of alimentary supply, but no differences were observed between hibernators and non-hibernators. Density sucrose gradients showed that approx. 20% of the TG was present as the 12S precursor sub-unit. No variations in the iodine content, nor the iodoamino acid composition of the TG occurred as a function of hibernation.