Decreased plasma testosterone and total thyroxine in desalivated male rats.

Plasma testosterone and total thyroxine were decreased by 50 and 35%, respectively, in submandibular gland extirpated or parotid duct ligated rats treated 27 days earlier. Sixty-two days after surgery, testosterone and total thyroxine were decreased by 20 and 40%, respectively. These changes occurred in the absence of evidence of nutritional impairment or signs of stress, such as adrenal enlargement or thymic involution.