Activity : Homeostatic Imbalances of Thyroid Function
Predictions
1. TSH levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are:
2. Thyroxine levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are:
3. TSH levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are:
4. Thyroxine levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are:
5. TSH levels in patients with hyperthyroidism are:
6. Thyroxine levels in patients with hyperthyroidism are:
Materials and Methods
1. Name the Dependent Variable.
2. Name the Independent Variable.
3. Name the Controlled Variables.
4. Why was RIA used to measure Thyroxine while IRMA was used to measure TSH?
5. How was it used to observe relative amount of iodine accumulated by thyroid gland
Results
Table 2. Concentration of Thyroxine and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in Blood Serum
Normal Patient 1 Patient 2 Patient 3
Value Status Value Status Value Status
Thyroxine (mg/l) 0.05-0.14
TSH (mIU/l) 0.35-4.5
Type of thyroid
disorder
1. The normal range for total amount of Thyroxine in serum is 0.05 - 0.14 mg/L. For each patient, type in their serum Thyroxine
concentration and indicate if it is lower, within, or higher than the normal range.
a. Patient with primary hypothyroidism
b. Patient with secondary hypothyroidism
c. Patient with hyperthyroidism
2. The normal range for serum TSH is 0.35 - 4.5 mIU/L . For each patient, type in her serum TSH concentration and indicate if it is
lower, within, or higher than the normal range.
a. Patient with primary hypothyroidism
b. Patient with secondary hypothyroidism
c. Patient with hyperthyroidism
3. For each patient, state whether her thyroid image indicates whether their iodine uptake is low, normal, or high.
a. Patient with primary hypothyroidism
b. Patient with secondary hypothyroidism
c. Patient with hyperthyroidism
Discussion
1. For each subject, indicate whether her TRH levels would be low, normal, or high. Please explain your decision. Discuss negative
feedback control in your answer.
a. Subject with primary hypothyroidism
b. Subject with secondary hypothyroidism
c. Subject with hyperthyroidism.
2. For each subject, explain why iodine uptake would be greater or less than normal.
a. Subject with primary hypothyroidism
b. Subject with secondary hypothyroidism
c. Subject with hyperthyroidism.
3. State how hypothyroidism affects each of the following and describe the mechanism by which this change occurs.
a. body temperature
b. heart rate
4. State how hyperthyroidism affects each of the following and describe the mechanism by which this change occurs.
a. body temperature
b. heart rate
5. Restate your predictions that were correct and give the data from your experiment that supports them. Restate your predictions
that were not correct and correct them, giving the data from your experiment that supports the corrections.
Application
1. The subject who was diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism was given levothyroxine (synthetic Thyroxine). After 2 months of
treatment, her TSH values decreased by 96.38% and her Thyroxine levels increased by 879.4%. Explain why her TSH levels decreased
and Thyroxine increased.
2. The subject who was diagnosed with secondary hypothyroidism was given levothyroxine (synthetic Thyroxine). After 6 weeks of
treatment, her TSH values did not change and her Thyroxine levels increased by 778.62%. Explain the why TSH did not change and
why Thyroxine increased.
3. The subject who was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism was given propylthiouracil (prevents Thyroxine production and conversion
of Thyroxine to T3 in the tissues). After 2 months of treatment, her TSH levels increased by 371.15% and her Thyroxine levels
decreased by 42.7%. Explain why her TSH levels increased and her Thyroxine levels decreased.
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