A simple method for the separation and quantitation of radiolabeled thyroid hormones in thyroxine clearance studies

Abstract

A method was developed to facilitate the separation and quantitation of radiolabeled thyroxine in plasma for thyroxine clearance studies. Following intravenous injection of radioactive thyroxine, the radiolabeled thyroid hormones were isolated from plasma protein and polar metabolites by solid phase extraction on a C₁₈ sorbent bed. The individual thyroid hormones were then separated by ionpair reversed phase chromatography and sequentially eluted through a UV detector and radiochromatographic detector. The radioactivity of individual radiolabeled thyroid hormones was corrected for recovery of carrier as determined from UV absorbance. The recoveries of thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T₃) were 96% and 101%, respectively.