Pineal-induced depression of free thyroxine in Syrian hamsters.

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 in free T4.