Effect of 3,3′,5-Triiodothyropropionic Acid (T3P) on Serum Cholesterol Values of Old Female White Carneau Pigeons

SummaryOld female White Carneau pigeons were given 3,3′,5-triiodothyropropionic acid at 25, 75 and 200 μg per day for a period of 15 months. Mean serum cholesterol lowerings for 23 sample periods for the 3 groups compared to controls were 26%, 14% and 25% for the respective dose levels with a grand mean of 22% for all groups combined (since no dose response-relationship was apparent at these levels). This lowering was highly significant and agrees with the results found with the rat. The use of the pigeon to screen hypocholesterolemic drugs would not be the one of choice because of the wide fluctuations in serum cholesterol values and therefore the need for rather large numbers of birds and long periods of study to obtain significant data.