Destroyed thyroid by acidic blood during subarachnoid hemorrhage: Experimental study

Abstract

Aim: Metabolic acidosis can negatively affect thyroid functions. The aim of this study is to show the damage in the thyroid gland caused by acidosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods: Twenty rabbits were chosen from our recent SAH studies. Five healthy rabbits were included in the control group, five were included in the SHAM group, which received 1 ml of saline, and ten rabbits, chosen from SAH-induced animals with decreased blood pH, constituted the study group. TSH, T3, T4 and blood pH values were recorded before, during and after the experimental procedures. Densities of the normal and degenerated epithelial cell of thyroid glands were estimated using stereological methods. The relationship between blood pH and thyroid hormone values, and degenerated epithelial cell densities were analyzed statistically.Results: pH values of blood were measured as 7.35 (0.037), 7.32 (0.05), and 7.21 (0.012) in the control, SHAM and SAH groups, respectively. The estimation of normal and degenerated epithelial cells per square milimeter of follicles was calculated as wall surface/cell surface. The mean normal epithelial cell count was 5,000 (750) in normal thyroid follicles. Mean degenerated epithelial cells counts were 50 (9) in the normal group, 154 (30) in the SHAM group and 460 (80) in the study group. For all results there was statistically significant difference between the control, SHAM and SAH groups (P<0.001).Conclusions: Acidosis, one of the most fatal complications of SAH, may damage the thyroid gland with neurovascular network degeneration.