Hormonal changes in burned hamsters.

Burned male Syrian hamsters (burn size 23% of body surface) exhibited reduced total (T4) and free (FT4) serum concentrations, a defect in T4 binding to serum proteins manifested by the T4 dialyzable fraction but not the in vitro T3 charcoal uptake, and reduced serum testosterone concentration. These changes are similar to those noted previously in burned humans. Unlike such patients, burned hamsters did not exhibit reduced serum T3 nor elevated rT3 concentrations in a reproducible manner. Pinealectomy performed before burning in hamsters did not prevent the burn-induced depression in serum T4 and testosterone.