title: Taurine ameliorated thyroid function in rats co-administered with chlorpyrifos and lead.
abstract: Chlorpyrifos is a widely used organophosphate insecticide for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes. Lead is a toxic heavy metal and it is used for domestic and industrial purposes. Taurine is a semi essential amino acid with bioprotective properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of taurine on thyroid function in Wistar rats co-administered with chlorpyrifos and lead. The rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 rats each. The first two groups were administered with distilled water and soya oil (1 ml/kg) respectively. The other groups received taurine (50 mg/kg), chlorpyrifos + lead [chlorpyrifos (4.25 mg/kg, 1/20 median lethal dose] and lead (233.25 mg/kg, 1/20 median lethal dose) and taurine + chlorpyrifos + lead respectively. The treatments were administered once daily by oral gavage for 16 weeks. The rats were euthanized after the completion of the study and the thyroid function and thyroid histoarchitecture were evaluated. The results revealed that co-administration of chlorpyrifos and lead to the rats induced perturbations in thyroid function and this was manifested by reductions in the concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine, increased thyroid stimulating hormone concentration and degeneration of the follicular epithelia of the thyroid gland. Taurine alleviated the perturbations in thyroid function and improved thyroid gland histoarchitecture. The beneficial effects of taurine may be attributed to its ability to protect the body from toxicity and oxidative stress. Taurine may be useful for prophylaxis against disruptions in thyroid function in animals that are exposed to environmental chlorpyrifos and lead.
authors: Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, 900001, Nigeria. akande.ganiyat@uniabuja.edu.ng.
authors: Motunrayo Ganiyat
authors: MG
authors: Akande
authors: Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors: Muftau
authors: M
authors: Shittu
authors: Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors: Chidiebere
authors: C
authors: Uchendu
authors: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors: Lukuman Surakat
authors: LS
authors: Yaqub
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004390:Chlorpyrifos / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000378:metabolism; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013654:Taurine; D007854:Lead; D013972:Thyrotropin; D004390:Chlorpyrifos; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Chlorpyrifos; Lead; Taurine; Thyroid function; Thyroid gland; Wistar rats