The transcapillary exchange of thyroid hormones and thyroxine-binding proteins between blood and tissue fluids

A study has been made of the relative importance of potien bound and unbound hormone in the exchange of thyroid hormones between blood and interstitial fluid. 2. When [I] tyroxine (or thriiodothyronine) and [I] human serum albumin were injected simultaneously into the circulation of sheep with chronic lymphatic fistulae, the thyroid hormones were removed from the circulation and apperaed in all lymph samples at a greater fractional rate than human serum albumin. 3. The steady-state lymph/plasma concentrations ratios of the two specific thyroxine binding proteins were similar to each other and to those of albmin and total thyroxine. 4. Gel filtration studies indicated that the two specific thyroxine binding proteins, ovine serum albumin and human serum albumin, were all of similar molecular size. 5. Concentrations of unbound thyroxine in plasma and various samples of lymph from the one animal were similar. 6. Increasing the proportion of thyroid hormone that was unbound resulted in an increase rate of equilibration of labelled hormone between blood plasma and lymph. 7. Perfusion of the popliteal lymph node demonstrated that thyroid hormones were removed from lymph during its passage through the node. The amount removed was related to the proportion of hormone in the unbound state.