Possible Ameliorating Effect of Curcumin on the Pancreas of Experimentally Induced Hypothyroidism in Rat: Histological, Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Study

Abstract Background: Hypothyroidism is reported as the most common thyroid disease in humans which is caused by thyroid hormones deficiency. Aim of Study: To evaluate the role of curcumin in preven-tion of the possible histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical changes on the pancreas of experimentally induced hypothrodism in adult male rat. Material and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats weighing (150-200gm) were allotted in four groups, ten animals each. Group 1 (control group) received no medication, Group II (curcumin group) were given curcumin 100mg/kg/b.w orally by gastric gavage for 6 weeks Group III: (Hypothyroid group) was rendered hypothyroid by administration of pro-pylthiouracil (PTU) (Thyrocil) 15mg/kg b.w orally by gavage for 6 weeks. Group IV (hypothyroid and curcumin treated group) received the same dose of PTU for 6 weeks with the addition of curcumin starting 2 weeks after PTU administration (after confirmation of the hypothyroidism state) to the sixth week. The pancreas was dissected out and subjected to histo-logical and immunohistochemical study. Results: The pancreas of hypothyroid rats showed histo-logical changes in the form of pale small size islets. Inside the islets the cells appeared vacuolated with pyknosis of their nuclei. Immunohistchemical study showing a decreased number of insulin-immunoreactivity. Biochemical results revealed a significant decreased pancreatic tissue Superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, Catalase, Glutathione-S-transferase and Glutathione peroxidase as well as increased pancreatic tissue Malondialdehyde compared with those of controls. Hypothy-roid and curcumin group revealed an improvement in these histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical changes. Conclusion: Data so far obtained indicated that Curcumin has antioxidant effect that could possibly account for its potential in the current study to ameliorate all the histological, Immunohistochemical and biochemical parameters altered by hypothyroidism.