HYPERPLASTIC THYROID GLAND

Aim and Objective: The study was conducted to see the effects of dexamethasone (synthetic corticosteroid) on involution ofhyperplastic thyroid gland in albino rats, and to evaluate its uses in thyroid diseases. Study Design: Comparative histological study done inPostgraduate Medical Institute Lahore in 1998. Materials and methods: 54 adult male rats were taken and divided at random into control grouphaving 27 rats and experimental groups containing 27 rats. Control group was given normal diet along with 2 microgram of Potassium iodidefor 21 days while experimental groups further subdivided into group A having 3 rats and group B and C containing 12 rats each. All theexperimental groups were treated with Thiourea. Group A was sacrificed on day 22 after withdrawal of thiourea. Group B was given Potassiumiodide after stoppage of thiourea on day 21 and were sacrificed on days 22, 26, 30 and 50 in 4 sub groups (B1- B4). Group C was injectedDexamethasone daily from day 22 to day 50 and sacrificed on same days in 4 subgroups (C1-C2) to study involution process. Results:Histologically experimental group A exhibited significant increase in width and length of follicular cells lining the small sized follicles havingscanty colloid. The results of experimental subgroups B revealed early and complete involution whereas subgroups C showed significantlypersistent hyperplastic changes in the form of tall follicular cells lining small empty follicles. Conclusion: Thus it was concluded thatdexamehasone did retain hyperplastic changes during involution process, so steroid should consciously be used in thyroid diseases.