Rats with spontaneous high level of NaCl intake have hypothyroidism

Abstract The thyroid function was studied by means of a comparison between rats that drank daily less than 2 mEq of a NaCl solution (control) and rats that spontaneously drank daily above 4 mEq of this solution (0.25 M), which is considered aversive to rats. It was found that, in these rats, the protein-bound iodine (PBI-127) and the radioactive iodine uptake (I-131) were less than in the control rats, in spite of similar thyroid weight. It seems, therefore, that the rats that drank high levels of the aversive salt solution have hypothyroidism. This finding shows another link between the thyroid gland and NaCl intake. These data have implications in the design and interpretation of experiments in which NaCl intake is studied.