19- THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND VITAMIN C FOR THYROID FUNCTION IN ADULT MALE RATS EXPOSED TO SODIUM FLUORIDE

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the role of both calcium chloride andVitamin C in protection against the deterioration effect of sodium fluoride (NaF)exposure on thyroid function .Fifty adult male rats were used, which dividedrandomly into five equal groups, the first group: The animals of this group served ascontrol group administrated distilled water orally by gavage. Second group:administrated NaF (5.2mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavage. Third group: administratedNaF (5.2mg/kg.bw/day) + Calcium Chloride (20mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavage.Fourth group: administrated NaF (5.2mg/kg.bw/day) + Vitamin C(100mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavage. Fifth group: administrated NaF(5.2mg/kg.bw/day) + Calcium Chloride (20mg/kg.bw/day) + Vitamin C(100mg/kg.bw/day) orally by gavag . The treatment continued for 45 days. At theend of the experiment, animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. Blood sampleswere taken and the serum was separated for the study of the thyroid hormones, andtissue samples of the thyroid gland were taken for histological changes. The studyshowed a significant elevation in thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH), and asignificant reduction in tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4) hormones concentration in NaF treated group compared with control, however a significantimprovement were recorded in above cited parameters in all treated groups.Histopathological study revealed hyperplasia include presence of large number ofsmall follicles in NaF treated group whereas a significant amelioration were found inall other treated groups which appeared semi-normal compared with control group