Thyroid gland function in the belgrade laboratory (b/b) rat

The Belgrade laboratory (b/b) rat has a unique hereditary defect in iron metabolism, that induces profound anemia and hypoxia. Serum thyroid hormone levels in anemic b/b rats and non-anemic controls (+/+) were investigated using radio-immunoassay (RIA). Hematologic parameters and erythropoietin (Epo) concentrations were also determined in the anemic b/b and control rats. Our results confirmed the existence of severe anemia and extremely high Epo concentrations in the anemic b/b rats. The results for serum thyroid hormone concentrations imply the existence of thyroid gland hypofunction in the b/b rats. These preliminary results points to the b/b rat anemic syndrome as a unique model, which is not only interesting for the hematologist, but also for the endocrinologist.