INFLUENCE OF ALIMENTARY DEPRIVATION ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF RAT'S THYROID GLAND

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the well-studied effect of alimentary deprivation on the body, the literature data on its effect on functional activity and, in particular, on morphological changes in the thyroid gland are single and often contradictory, which does not allow unambiguous conclusions. All this requires a more detailed study of the role and mechanisms of the impact of restricted nutrition on the thyroid gland. Aim: To investigate the effect of alimentary deprivation on morphological changes in the thyroid gland of young rats. Methods: The study was conducted on 24 male Wistar rats aged 3 months. Rats of all groups were in uniform conditions, on a standard diet. Animals of the experimental group, for 28 days, received a diet reduced by 30 %. Work with rats was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Histological preparations were made from the central areas of the thyroid tissue according to the standard method. Using a digital camera, the micropreparations were photographed under a Nikon Eclipse E 100 microscope (Japan). Morphometry was performed using a computer program "Image J". Results: Histological analysis of the rat's thyroid gland affected by alimentary deprivation revealed that it had an unchanged physiological structure. The follicles were mostly of oval shape and of various sizes. Colloid in the follicles of experimental animals is of moderate density and contains numerous resorption vacuoles. Thyroid cells are of prismatic and cubic shape. It was found that in the thyroid gland of experimental rats the area of ​​follicles, colloid, their inner diameter decreases, the height of thyrocytes increases, the stereological resorption index increases and the colloid accumulation index decreases, the number of interfollicular islands increases. Also in experimental animals there was a decrease in the width of the interlobar and interfollicular connective tissue. Conclusion: In rats fed on a reduced diet, morphological signs of increased functional activity of the thyroid gland were found.