Title: Thyroxin, glucose, body growth rate and non-protein nitrogen constituents in albino rats treated with excess potassium iodate

Authors: Maged M. Yassin, Ismail I. Abd El-Aziz, Fayez A. El Mabhouh

Addresses: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Islamic University of Gaza, PO Box 108, Gaza Strip, Palestine. ' Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, The Islamic University of Gaza, PO Box 108, Gaza Strip, Palestine. ' Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, The Islamic University of Gaza, PO Box 108, Gaza Strip, Palestine

Abstract: The study was aimed to determine median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of potassium iodate and to assess its toxicity in albino rats. The oral LD₅₀ was found to be 752 mg kg⁻¹ body weight. A dose of 1/5 LD₅₀ potassium iodate was then given to animals (n = 36). Control animals (n = 36) received distilled water. Means were compared by independent-samples t-test. Growth rates of experimental animals were decreased, particularly at the first two weeks (27.5 and 24.2%, p = 0.009 and 0.000, respectively). Significant increase in serum thyroxin was observed at the second and third weeks (p = 0.007 and 0.046, respectively). Mean glucose levels were significantly decreased with maximum difference of 26.3% at the fifth week (106.1 ± 4.9 ν 78.2 ± 4.2, p = 0.002). Urea was decreased (max difference = 23.6%, mean = 35.6 ± 1.8 ν 27.2 ± 1.7, p = 0.007) whereas uric acid and creatinine were increased (max difference = 25.4%, mean = 1.77 ± 0.08 ν 2.22 ± 0.12, p = 0.011 and 19.6%, 0.56 ± 0.03 ν 0.67 ± 0.03, p = 0.022, respectively).

Keywords: albino rats; body growth rate; glucose; non-protein nitrogen constituents; potassium iodate toxicity; thyroxin.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFSNPH.2008.023014

International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.137 - 149

Published online: 07 Feb 2009 *

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