QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fischer, P. W. F. Articles by Giroux, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fischer, P. W. F. Articles by Giroux, A.

Effect of Dietary Iodine on Autoimmune Thyroiditis in the BB Wistar Rat¹

Peter W. F. Fischer^*, James S. Campbell and Alexandre Giroux^*

^* Nutrition Research Toxicology Research Divisions, Food Directorate, Health Protection Branch, Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2, Canada

Diabetes-prone BB Wistar rats were fed a modified AIN-76 diet providing the following amounts of iodine for 10 wk: 0.2 mg/kg diet (recommended amount); 1.0 mg/kg; 2.0 mg/kg; or 3.0 mg/kg. The thyroids were examined for gross and microscopic changes and sera were assayed for antibodies to trliodothyronine (T₃), thyroxine (T₄), and thyroglobulin (Tg). The body weights and food consumption of the rats fed 0.2 mg of iodine/kg were significantly lower than those of the animals fed higher amounts. Urinary iodine excretion reflected dietary intakes. The thyroids from animals fed 2.0 and 3.0 mg/kg were significantly (P < 0.01) larger than those from animals fed 0.2 mg/kg. One rat fed 0.2 mg/kg and 2 rats in each group fed 2.0 and 3.0 mg/kg had extensive lymphocytic thyroiditis. Three rats fed 1.0 mg/kg, 6 fed 2.0 mg/kg and 6 fed 3.0 mg/kg had enlarged thyroids. Two rats fed 0.2 mg/kg, 2 fed 2.0 mg/kg and 6 fed 3.0 mg/kg had detectable Tg antibodies. These data suggest that high iodine intakes increase Tg antibodies, which may be associated with an increase in autoimmune thyroiditis in these animals.

KEY WORDS: • iodine excess • autoimmune thyroiditis

¹ Publication No. 279 of the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences.

Manuscript received 11 July 1988. Revision accepted 14 October 1988.