Abstract
BackgroundEstrogen therapy is widely used nowadays in women to treat many postmenopausal symptoms but it may have some undesirable effects due to multiple organs affection. So, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of chronic estradiol treatment on the structure and function of the thyroid gland in ovarictomized rats as a model simulating menopause.FindingsThirty adult female Wistar rats divided into three groups were used in this study; the first group was sham-operated, while the second and third groups were ovariectomized. The first and second groups were injected with olive oil while the third group was injected with estradiol dipropionate daily for three months, after that; hormonal assay for T3, T4, TSH and specimens of the thyroid were taken and processed to be examined by light and electron microscopy. The results of this study revealed that serum levels of T3 and T4 decreased in ovariectomized animals and significantly increased after estradiol treatment, while TSH increased in ovariectomized animals and decreased with estradiol treatment. Histological and morphometric study in ovariectomized group revealed marked accumulation of colloid in follicular lumens with decreased epithelial height in addition to increased connective tissue amount. After estradiol treatment the follicles became smaller in size, having small amount of colloid with increased epithelial height in addition to decreased connective tissue content. Ultrastructural study supported these results in addition to the presence of large amount of intracytoplasmic colloid vesicles after estradiol treatment.ConclusionLow estrogen level may lead to mild thyroidal hypofunction while estradiol treatment may lead to hyperactivity so it should be used very cautiously in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms to avoid its undesirable stimulatory effect on the thyroid.
Highlights
Estrogen therapy is widely used nowadays in women to treat many postmenopausal symptoms but it may have some undesirable effects due to multiple organs affection
Having in mind discrepancies in literature, this study aimed to examine the effects of chronic estradiol treatment on structure and function of thyroid gland in ovarictomized rats as an animal model for menopause
Hormonal assay Animals underwent ovariectomy demonstrated decreased serum levels of T3 and T4 with increase of TSH levels when compared to the control and estradiol treated groups
Summary
Estrogen therapy is widely used nowadays in women to treat many postmenopausal symptoms but it may have some undesirable effects due to multiple organs affection. There is a great wealth of published data on the value of estrogen therapy in alleviating menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and insomnia and in preventing urogenital atrophy and osteoporosis [1]. Absorbable catgut sutures were used to tie the Fallopian tubes below the ovaries. Sham-operated group underwent a similar surgical incision exposing the ovaries and replacing them in the same position [12]. During hormonal therapy both beneficial and undesirable side effects appear due to multiple target organs for estrogen [2]. Epidemiological studies suggest that the use of estrogen may contribute to the pathogenesis of thyroid tumors [3] ; thyroid diseases are more common in women [4]
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