Lithium-induced inhibition of 125I accumulation by thyroids and growing oocytes of Japanese quail.

A single dose of 975 mumol. Li Cl suppressed thyroidal accumulation of iodide in laying Japanese quail as measured at 1, 6, and 18 hr. after injecting 125 I and in mature male quail at 1 hr. Thyroidal accumulation was above control values in males by 18 hr. Levels of 125 I were unchanged in growing oocytes but in testes were 3 to 60 times the control levels. When accumulations were expressed relative to the concentration of 125I in the plasma, in lithium-treated quail levels in thyroids were 0.02 to 0.5 times, in oocytes 0.2 to 0.9 and in testes 0.7 to 0.8 times control values. Results indicate that a single large dose of LiCl caused retention of 125I in the extracellular fluid of Japanese quail and thereby in the testes but inhibited transport of the tracer into the thyroid and growing oocytes.