Body mass, spleen mass and level of thyroid hormones in juvenile hypothyroid rats

• Main Authors: Roksandić Dragutin, Šimić Marija, Radovanović Anita, Gledić Dušan
• Format: Article
• Language: srp
• Published: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Belgrade 2006-01-01
• Series: Veterinarski Glasnik
• Subjects: hypothyroidism; rat; spleen; development
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-2457/2006/0350-24570604153R.pdf

In this paper, the effect of hypothyroidism on body mass and spleen mass of rats was examined during the prenatal and early juvenile periods. Hypothyroidism was induced by the application of propylthiouracil (PTU) in drinking water to the mothers from the first day of gravidity and during lactation, and the offspring were sacrificed on the 14th and 21st days after birth. The body mass of the juvenile rats was measured just before they were sacrificed. The concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in blood serum were determined in control and treated juvenile rats. The results indicate that PTU leads to a reduction in T3 and T4 serum concentrations in treated juvenile rats. Treated juvenile rats had a bigger body mass and spleen mass in comparison with control animals. These data indicate that hypothyroidism induced in the prenatal and early juvenile period leads to an increase in the body mass and spleen mass and disrupts the normal development of the spleen in the course of the examined period. .