Effects of bilateral lesions of the nuclei habenulae on plasma thyroxine levels in Japanese quail.

Electrolytic bilateral lesions of th nuclei habenulae were made in male, adult photostimulated quail. Habenular destruction led to a marked decrease in the plasma thyroxine level (40%), whereas sham operated birds did not differ from controls. This result appears to be somewhat different from those obtained in mammals and the mechanisms of habenular-thyroid interrelationships are unknown.