Histomorfometria e função tireoidiana no ciclo estral da rata / Histomorphometric and functional studies of the rat thyroid throughout the estrous cycle

The influence of the estrous cycle on the thyroid gland was studied. Twenty one five-to-seven-month-old Wistar female rats were divided according to the stage of the estrous cycle in two groups: metaestrus-diestrus and proestrus-estrus. After gross inspection, the thyroids were weighed, sampled, and processed for staining with hematoxilyn-eosin. Seric concentrations of total T4, free T4, total T3, TSH, progesterone, and estradiol were measured. The values of estradiol were significantly higher in the proestrus-estrus stage. However, no significant differences in the plasmatic concentrations of progesterone, free T4, total T4 and TSH throughout the cycle were found. The results of the morphometric study of the thyroid did not indicate any significant differences between the groups. These findings suggest that there is no thyreotrophic effect of estrogen during the estrous cycle in rats.(AU)

Influência do hipogonadismo na histomorfometria e função tireoidiana de ratas hipotireóideas

The morphology and function of the thyroids of female adult Wistar rats were investigated. The animals were either castrated or intact and kept in a hypothyroid condition by a treatment with propylthiouracil for 120 days. Castrated and intact euthyroid rats were used as controls. The thyroids were collected at the end of the experiment, weighted, histologically processed, and morphometrically evaluated. Proportions of each glandular component, namely, follicular epithelium, colloid, and stroma, were determined. Serum concentrations of total T3, free T4, and TSH were assessed at the end of the experimental period. The weight and the morphometric parameters were not influenced by castration, whereas an increase in the epithelial component associated with a decreased amount of colloid were observed only in hypothyroid animals. Under an euthyroid state, the deficiency of sexual hormones induced an increase in the levels of free T4 and total T3. In hypothyroid animals, withdrawal of sexual hormones caused an exacerbation of the decrease in total T3, but not in free T4. TSH levels were not affected by the thyroid or the functional condition of gonads. In conclusion, hypogonadism did not influence the glandular hyperplasia and decrease in plasmatic levels of free thyroxin induced by propylthiouracil, but markedly changed the profile of total T3 according to the functional condition of the thyroid, in the absence of changes in the plasmatic levels of TSH.

Foram investigadas a morfologia e a função tireoidiana de ratas Wistar, adultas, castradas e não castradas e mantidas em estado hipotireóideo pela administração diária de propiltiouracil por 120 dias. Ratas eutireóideas castradas e não castradas serviram de controle. As tireóides, colhidas ao final do experimento, foram pesadas, processadas histologicamente e submetidas à análise morfométrica, pela qual foi determinada a proporção dos componentes glandulares (epitélio folicular, colóide e estroma). No plasma sangüíneo, colhido também ao final do período experimental, foram determinadas as concentrações de T3 total, T4 livre e TSH. O peso e a histomorfometria da tireóide não sofreu influência da castração e o aumento do componente epitelial e decréscimo da quantidade de colóide só foram detectados no hipotireoidismo. No estado eutireóideo a deficiência dos esteróides sexuais levou ao aumento dos valores de T4 livre e T3 total e no hipotireoidismo, exacerbou a queda de T3 total, mas não a de T4 livre. Os valores de TSH não se alteraram em nenhum dos estados funcionais da glândula ou das gônadas. Conclui-se que o hipogonadismo não modifica a hiperplasia glandular e a queda dos níveis plasmáticos de tiroxina livre induzidos pelo propiltiouracil, mas altera profundamente o comportamento da triiodotironina total de acordo com o estado funcional da tireóide, tudo sem alterar os valores plasmáticos de TSH.