Protective Effect of Selenium and Zinc Against Dehp Induced Toxicity in the Thyroid Gland of Rats

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Selenium and Zinc in improving histological features on DEHP-induced toxicity in the thyroid gland of rats.

Design of study: Laboratory based experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Anatomy Department of Islamic International Medical College with the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad Pakistan cooperation from Sep 2019 to Sep 2020.

Methodology: Forty, eight weeks old rats were divided into four groups, each containing ten male rats. In control, Group-A rats were on the standard diet. In Group-B, rats were given orally 500mg/kg/day DEHP. In Group-C rats were given 500mg/kg/day DEHP and 1mg/kg/day Selenium orally. In Group-D rats were given 500mg/kg/day DEHP and 5mg/kg/day Zinc orally. After 28 days, rats were dissected, and the thyroid gland was removed. Histological parameters, vacuolization and number of follicular cells were observed with H and E stining among control and experimental groups.

Results: In Group-B, 50% of rats showed severe vacuolization. In Group-C, 60% of rats showed minimal vacuolization. In Group- D, 40% of rats showed minimally, and 40% of rats showed mild vacuolization. Among quantitative parameters, the number of follicular cells was conserved more by Selenium than Zinc.

Conclusion: Selenium and Zinc have a protective effect on thyroid histological changes caused by DEHP, but Selenium shows better conservation than zinc on thyroid histology.