Eight-week-old female (n = 6) and male (n = 3) heterozygous (Tshr+/-) mice were donated by Prof. Jiajun Zhao, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (Jinan, China) and housed in the Animal Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital on Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. Food and water were provided ad libitum. Mice were kept in a 12 h : 12 h light : dark cycle in a temperature-controlled room (22 ± 2°C). After 4 weeks of acclimation, heterozygous mice were bred to obtain Tshr+/+ and Tshr−/− mice. Genotyping of the offspring was performed at 3 weeks of age. Tshr−/− offspring were fed chow containing 100 ppm L-thyroxine powder (Sigma-Aldrich, USA).
The care and treatment of mice were conducted in accordance with the recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the National Institutes of Health. This study complied with the current Chinese laws pertaining to the conduct of scientific research.
The care and treatment of mice were conducted in accordance with the recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the National Institutes of Health. This study complied with the current Chinese laws pertaining to the conduct of scientific research.