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Vet. Pathol. 46 : 5, 2009 pp.1083
Experimental Study on Chemically Induced Hypothyroidism in pigs using Thiourea
K.S. Prasanna, T.Sreekumaran, A. Rajan.
Centre of Excellence in Pathology College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,
Mannuthy-680 651,
Kerala, India.
Goitrogenic substances are widely distributed in nature and a subclinical hypothyroid state influences the health and growth of man and animals. An experimental model of hypothyroid state was induced in 2–3 month old piglets using thiourea (given@ 50 mg/kg body weight daily in feed for 3 months) to study the sequence of clinico pathological changes and its influence on the animals’ health and growth. Hemogram bodyweight, total plasma proteins, serum cholesterol and serum thyroxine (T4) values were estimated from day 1–90 at 15 days intervals. The experimental animals recorded stunted growth, appreciable reduction in feed in take and alopecia of neck and shoulder region. Gradual weight gain noticed during the first month which reduced progressively in subsequent months. Normocytic hypochromic anemia with reduction in Hemoglobin (Hb) and Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC) was noted. Serum cholesterol and Plasma protein increase from 30th day onwards. Radio Immuno Assay (RIA) with kits from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) showed significant reduction in T4 level during the study .The relative weight of thyroid was significantly increased, yet the adrenal and pituitary glands showed a less significant increase. The thyroid glands exhibited varying degree of hyperplastic changes with depletion of colloid and hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the lining epithelium. In the pituitary, there was hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the basophils with degranulation of the acidophils. Adrenal glands showed diffuse hyperplasia of zona fasciculata and accessory cortical nodule formation. Testis showed varying degree of tubular degeneration. The study concluded that incorporation of goitrogenic substances for longer period in the feed can adversely affect the growth and reproduction of pigs.