April - June 2010, Volume 6, Issue 2

Maiti BR, Sarkar S, Sarkar R, Sengupta SC, Pradhan D, Chatterjee A

Inhibitions of thyroidal and extra-thyroidal T3, T4 and thyroperoxidase profiles with elevations of TSH following lithium treatment in adult and aged rats

Acta Endo (Buc) 2010, 6 (2): 171-180
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2010.171

Background. Lithium, a well known antimanic drug, has adverse effects on endocrine functions; but it is unknown in aged animals.\r\nAim. Untoward effects of lithium on thyroidal and extra-thyroidal thyroid hormones were investigated in adult and aged rats.\r\nMaterials and methods. Lithium was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 2 mEq/kg\r\nbody weight daily to one group of rats for 10 days and the other for 25 days respectively. Thyroid and serum T3 and T4, and extrathyroidal liver and kidney T3and T4 levels were\r\nmeasured by ELISA. Pituitary and serum TSH-like substance was determined using a human-TSH immunoassay kit. Thyroperoxidase profile was measured spectrophotometrically.\r\nResults. Lithium decreased thyroid and serum T3 and T4 levels, and increased pituitary and serum TSH-like profiles after 10 and 25 days of treatments respectively in adult and aged rats. Thyroperoxidase activity was decreased in all the treatments of adult and aged rats. Liver\r\nand kidney T3 and T4 profiles were also decreased in lithium recipients. Lithium actions were severe after 10 days of treatment in adult rats and 25 days treatment in aged rats.\r\nConclusion. Lithium has untoward effects on thyroid and extra-thyroidal thyroid hormone synthesis irrespective of the age of rats.

Keywords: T3, T4, TSH, thyroperoxidase, thyroid, pituitary, liver, kidney, lithium, rat

Correspondence: Professor Biswaranjan R. Maiti, Department of Zoology,\r\nUniversity of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road Road, Calcutta 700 019, India, Email: drbrm123@hotmail.com