Description
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a pituitary hormone that prompts the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine (T4), followed by triiodothyronine (T3), both of which enhance the metabolism of nearly all body tissues. TSH is a glycoprotein composed of two subunits: alpha and beta. In rabbits, the beta subunit is encoded by the TSHB gene. In experimental studies, treatment of rabbits with radioiodine-labeled TSH observed an increase in thyroid volume, elevated thyroid hormone levels, and enhanced thyroid radioiodine uptake. These results suggest that TSH has a significant thyroid-stimulating effect in rabbits