We studied the dependence of the free thyroxin (T4) index and the ratio of T4 to thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG) on TBG concentrations, using sera from cases of congenital TBG deficiency and congenital TBG excess. Two such sera with similar concentrations of albumin, transthyretin, and free T4 were mixed to provide test samples with TBG concentrations covering the range of clinical interest wit...

The contribution of L-thyroxine (T4) to nuclear thyroid receptor occupancy was studied in GC cells incubated with concentrations of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) and T4 that resulted in free iodothyronine levels similar to those in serum of euthyroid rats. T4 accounted for 5.4-10% of the occupied receptors: T3 derived from T4 [T3(T4)] and T3 added to medium accounted for the remainder of rece...

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Blind hamsters had no alteration of the dialyzable fraction of serum thyroxine (T4) but had depressed total and free T4 concentrations compared to controls. Prevention of the effects of blinding by pinealectomy indicates pineal influence on circulating free T4 concentration. Parallel changes in free T4 and the free T4 index indicate adequacy of the index in representing pineal-induced changes i...