Histological structure of the thyroid gland in apolipoprotein E deficient female mice after levothyroxine application.
The aim of this study was to determine the histological characteristics of the thyroid gland in ApoE KO-/- mice following the application of levothyroxine (l-thyroxine). A total of 12 female ApoE KO-/- mice were divided into two groups. A control group of mice received distilled water and the experimental group received l-thyroxine dissolved in drinking water at a daily dose of 2 µg/ml, over 12 weeks. The paraffin sections were processed with the usual haematoxilin-eosin technique of staining. Qualitative histological analysis demonstrated: the presence of large distended follicles in the peripheral areas of the gland; fulfillment of the lumen of follicles with an ample amount of colloid; complete absence of resorptive vacuoles in the colloid; a flattened follicullar epithelium. Morphometric assessment showed a significant increase in the diameters of follicles in the peripheral areas of the gland and a significant decrease in the height of the follicullar epithelium (p<0,001). Our results demonstrated that l-thyroxine causes characteristic morphological changes in the structure of the thyroid gland in the direction of the occurrence of hyperthyroidism.
Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
Irena
I
Petrova
Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
Elida
E
Mitevska
Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
Zorica
Z
Gerasimovska
Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
Liljana
L
Milenkova
Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
Nevena
N
Kostovska
D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D013974:Thyroxine