THE BINDING OF THYROIDAL HORMONES BY TRITON WR-1339
The ability of Triton WR-1339 to bind thyroxine was determined by the thyroxine-stabilization technic of Tata. In addition, the effect of Triton treatment on the amount of triiodothyronine bound by guinea pig plasma was measured by the erythrocytic system of Hamolsky et al. and the direct method of Scholer. It was found that Triton was as effective as whole serum protein in its ability to inhibit the drying-induced deiodination of thyroxine occurring on filter paper. Triton treatment resulted in a significantly decreased uptake of triiodothyronine in the erythrocytic system and, conversely, a significantly increased binding of triiodothyronine by plasma. These results are discussed in terms of a possible competition for available thyroxine in vivo between Triton and thyroxine-binding serum proteins.