Hypothyroidism Increases Body Weight, Absolute and Relative Weight of Pituitary Gland in Male Albino Rats

• Published in: Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences Vol. 6; no. 1
• Main Authors: Khalida Perveen, Zaheer Amjad, Shamama Bashir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dow University of Health Sciences 01-04-2012
• Subjects: absolute weight; albino rats; hyperthyroidism; Pituitary gland; relative weight; thyroid hormones
• ISSN: 1995-2198; 2410-2180

Objective: To evaluate the increase in body weight, absolute and relative weight of pituitary gland in experimental hypothyroid male albino rat. Design: An experimental animal study. Place: Anatomy Department, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Methods: Thirty adult albino rats were selected for the study and divided into two groups. Group A served as control group and received injection normal saline 1 cc intraperitoneally daily for six weeks. Group B was treated group and received carbimazole in a dose of 6µgm/gm body weight intraperitoneally daily for eight weeks. Animals were weighed at the commencement and at the completion of treatment. Absolute weights of pituitary glands were recorded after the animals were sacrificed. Relative weights of pituitary glands were also calculated. The results were compared with control and correlated with the previous studies. Results: Final body weight of animals were increased significantly (P<0.001) in treated group (B) as compared to control group (A). Absolute weight of pituitary gland was significantly increased (P<0.001) in group B as compared to group A. Relative weight of   pituitary gland was significantly increased (P<0.001) in group B as compared to group A. Conclusion: There is increase in body weight of animals by the effect of  carbimazole. Enlargement of pituitary gland due to its hyperplasia results in increase in the absolute weight. The increase in generalized body weight results in increase in relative weight of the organ.