Histopathological and Biochemical Toxic Effect of Amiodarone on Thyroid Gland in Albino Rat

El Sayed, Ola A.; Gawish, Safaa E.; Aweida, Gihan. H.; Auda, Enas A.

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2007.17693

Histopathological and Biochemical Toxic Effect of Amiodarone on Thyroid Gland in Albino Rat

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Anatomy Al-Azhar University, Faculty of medicine for girls

² Forensic medicine & toxicology Al-Azhar University, Faculty of medicine for girls

³ biochemistry Al-Azhar University, Faculty of medicine for girls

⁴ pharmacology department Al-Azhar University, Faculty of medicine for girls

10.21608/ejhm.2007.17693

Abstract

Backgrounds: Amiodarone AMD (Cordarone) was a benzofuran derivative, used in management of angina and refractory ventricular arrhythmia. Its effect on the thyroid gland structure and function was investigated in this study.
Material and Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were used and divided into three groups. The first group was consisted of 10 rats which served as control, received distilled water orally (1ml). The second group was consisted of 20 rats used as therapeutic dose treated group, received 40 mg/Kg b. w. of amiodarone while the third group was consisted of 20 rats used as a toxic dose treated group which received 60 mg/Kg b. w. of amiodarone orally daily for three months. Body weight of animals was determined. Serum concentration of tri-iodothyonine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyrotrophin (TSH), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumour marker P53 and tissue residue for amiodarone in plasma, fat, liver, lung, thyroid gland and heart was determined.
Results: Specimens from thyroid gland were taken and prepared for light and electron microscope examination. Highly significant decrease in body weight (P<0.001) were observed in both therapeutic and toxic doses treated groups in comparison to the control one. A very highly significant increase (P<0.001) of serum (T4 & T3) with Concomitant suppression of (TSH) (P<0.001). Serum levels of IL6 and P53 showed also a very highly significant increase (P<0.001). Amiodarone concentration in plasma, fat, liver, lung, thyroid gland and heart showed significant increase in therapeutic dose treated group and highly significant increase in toxic dose treated group.
Histopathological examination of thyroid gland of therapeutic dose treated group by light microscope showed marked evidence of thyotoxicosis in the form of microcystic follicular changes and peripheral scalloping, cellular degeneration with scanty cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei appeared. These changes became more severe in toxic dose treated group in the form of epithelial hyperplasia with atypical nuclear features. Thyroid tissue damage with haemorrhage and necrosis. Electron microscopic examination showed a remarkable cellular changes in the form of dilated rouph endoplasmic reticulum, inclusion lysosomes, dilated Golgi bodies, mitochondrial distension and nuclear degeneration. In both treated groups these changes were dose related.

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