Effect of Iodine-Deficient Diets and Goitrogenic Substances on the Weight Growth of Wistar Rats
August 2022
in “
International journal of biological and chemical sciences
”
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Studysummary This study found that iodine deficiency, iodine excess, or the presence of antithyroid substances affected growth and behavior in Wistar rats, leading to various symptoms such as lethargy and alopecia.
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The study investigated the effects of iodine-deficient and iodine-rich diets, as well as diets containing antithyroid substances, on the growth and behavior of 56 male Wistar rats over a period of 120 days. The rats were divided into 14 groups of 4, with various diets including simple iodine deficiency, iodine deficiency combined with undernutrition or thiocyanate, a diet containing Propylthiouracil (PTU), and others with cassava, millet, or supplemented with selenium. Results showed that, except for groups E (iodine deficiency + thiocyanate + undernutrition) and F (PTU), the rats generally adapted to their diets and exhibited positive weight growth. Some lethargy was observed in groups B, C, D, and E around the two-month mark, which resolved after one to two weeks. Alopecia was noted in some animals from groups B, C, D, E, F, and I after three weeks, but this also resolved after one month. The mortality rate was low at 2.5%, indicating good overall experimental conditions. Significant differences were observed in average daily gain (ADG) and feed intake levels among the groups.
