Experimental Exophthalmos in the Guinea Pig

Smelser1 described a stainable infiltrate occurring between the fat cells, muscle fibers, the lobules of the lacrimal gland, and in the connective tissue of the orbit in thyroidectomized guinea pigs injected with thyrotropic hormone. This infiltrate was said to consist of granules and droplets, presumably lipoid, as well as many lymphocytes scattered throughout the tissue. He reported that human biopsy specimens of muscles, orbital connective tissue and fat obtained at operation from 2 low B. M. R. exophthalmos cases showed an infiltration indistinguishable from that obtained experimentally.In the present study 12 immature guinea pigs whose weights ranged between 232 and 320 gm. were used. In 6 animals a thyroidectomy was done. One intact and one thyroidectomized animal were used as controls. Five intact and 5 thyroidectomized animals were given daily intraperitoneal injections of 25 to 40 guinea pig units of Antuitrin “T”,∗ a potent anterior pituitary gland extract containing the thyrotropic factor separ...