Investigation of the effect of boron on thyroid functions and biochemical parameters in hypothyroidism induced-rats

Hypothyroidism is often a health problem caused by iodine deficiency. Studies that affect the level of thyroid hormones of boron suggest that boron may have an iodine-like effect. In our study, the effects of boron on thyroid hormones and some biochemical parameters were investigated in rats with hypothyroidism. In the study, 49 Wistar Albino male rats were divided into seven groups (Control (K), hypothyroidism (H), 10 mg/kg boron (B10), 20 mg/kg boron (B20), hypothyroid + 10 mg/kg boron (HB10)). , hypothyroidism + 20 mg/kg boron (HB20) and Treatment (T)). Propycil® containing 0.05 mg/kg propylthiouracil (PTU) was added to the drinking water of the four groups (H, HB10, HB20 and T) freshly every day in order to induce hypothyroidism during the first three weeks. In the next three weeks, groups with hypothyroidism were given 10 mg/kg (B10 and HB10), 20 mg/kg (B20 and HB20) boron, and to the treatment group 10 mg/kg Euthyrox® (Levotroxin) by gastric gavage, respectively. At the end of six weeks, blood was drawn from the heart under ketamine/xylazine anesthesia from the rats, and then the thyroid tissues were removed and taken into 10% formol. Thyroid hormone (fT3, fT4, TSH, TT3, TT4) analyzes and other biochemical measurements (ALT, AST, ALP, protein, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose) from serum were performed by spectrophotometric method. In addition, thyroid gland tissue was examined histopathologically. According to the findings obtained in the study, TSH level was found to be significantly higher in the hypothyroid groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). When only boron given groups were compared to the control group, only the increase in fT3 level was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). AST, ALT, ALP activities were found to be higher in the hypothyroid group compared to the control, and hypothyroidism was formed and the activities of these enzymes decreased to values close to control in boron supplemented groups (HB10 and HB20). When the urea level was compared to the control group, it was determined that it increased in the B10 group, but decreased in the hypothyroid group (p<0.05). It was determined that the cholesterol level decreased in the boron given groups compared to the control and hypothyroid groups (p<0.05). It was determined that sodium iodine channels (NIS) immunoreactivity was high in rat groups with hypothyroidism. As a result, it shows that the increased AST and ALP activities in the given rats decreased with boron administration. The decrease in cholesterol level in all boron given groups suggests that boron is effective on lipid absorption and cholesterol synthesis in the liver. In the study, although boron had no effect on fT4, TT3, TT4 and TSH, an increasing effect on fT3 was observed. Measured serum hormone levels are not sufficient to understand the effect of boron on the thyroid gland, and it was concluded that further studies at the molecular level are needed to understand the effects of boron on the thyroid gland. Keywords: Biochemical parameters, Boron, Hypothyroidism, Histopathology, Rat