Evening star., 1950-09-22
New Thyroid Hormone
In Digestion Is Sought
Muy Be Important
In Stomach Ulcers
By Thomos R. Henry

by InomoS K. Henry
second thyroid gland hormone
which regulates stomach secretions and
may be an important factor in stomach
ulcers is being sought by Psychologists
working on an Office of Naval Research
project.
They have gathered mass Of evi-
dence which indicates that such a Sc
erection, hitherto unexpected, must ex-
ist, but as yet no progress has been
made toward its isolation.
The status of the search to date has
just been reported to the Navy by
DIR. E. S. Nasset of the University OF
Rochester. where the project is centered.
Guinea pigs have been used in the
experiments. In these animals it is
easy TO produce experimental stomach
ulcers which will cause fatal perfora-
tions on the stomach walls in known
periods through the administration of
certain drugs.
In one group, for example, the aver
age time between the start of the
ulcer and death was 135 hours. When
the thyroid glands of the animals were
removed. this average time was reduced
to IS hours. Apparently, some potent
removed.
so Animals Used.
A crucial experiment was one in
which so animals were used. The thy
roid glands of all were removed Then
they were split in three groups. All
showed the same signs of extreme
thyroid deficiency. They lost their ap-
petite, gained weight, their fur be-
came rough and dull. Their oxygen
consumption dropped about a third.
They were given six weeks to recover
from the shock Of the operation.
Then the stomach ulcers were pro-
duced. The first group was given the
hormone thyroxin by injection until all
the signs Of thyroid deficiency disap-
peared. They all died within IS hours.
The second group were given dried. whole
thyroid in their food. The metabolic
rate was not so much affected, but it
required almost three times as long for
the ulcers to prove fata1-the same
time as for animals with intact thyroidS.
third group was fed fresh hog thy
roid. It apparently had no effect.
Thus 1t became obvious that what
ever was affecting the rate of ulcer
progress was not thyroxin, at present
the only known thyroid hormone and
essentially the regulator OF body me-
tabolism, or the rate of living. Persons
with an over-supply use up a lot Of
oxygen, burn food fast. are likely to
have voracious appetites. and usually
lose weight. The opposite is true for
persons with thyroid deficiency.
Now the Navy group are engaged
in minute fractionization of the thyroid
in an effort to isolate the suspected hor-
none. They are working with dogs
whose stomachs are exposed so that it
is possible to measure from day to day
the rates of hydrochloric acid and pep
sin secretion in the stomach itself Both
these are factors In the cause and
progress Of ulcers.
Important to Digestion.
The unknown hormone, it is postu-
lated. may act either by regulating the
secretion or by strengthening the stom-
ach walls.
At the same time they are trying to
isolate hormone which Is known to
exist but has not yet been isolated. It
is understood to play a considerable
part in the digestive process. This is
enterocrin, secreted by the walls of the
digestive tract
From the stomach mucosa, a crystal
line substance, has been obtained, in
lection of which always increases the
volume Of gastric juices and sometimes
Of the engines which have a role in
food digestion. This, it is postulated,
may be crude form Of the elusive
enterocrin itself.
The stomach hormone may work with
the suspected thyroid hormone, the two
acting as checks and balances against
each other. II the thyroid hormone can
be isolated, it is pointed out in the re-
port, medicine will have an extremely
valuable weapon for use against stom-
ach ulcers, which are dangerous not only
per Sc but because Of their tendency
to become maligant.
Up to now the basic causes Of the
condition have been little understood.
It is known that persons of certain
temperaments are especially prone to
them, which fact may tie in somewhere
with the thyroid hormone hypothesis.