Impact of Alcoholic Cabbage Extract on T3, T4 & TSH Hormones Levels and Histological Architecture of the Thyroid Gland in Adult Male Rats

Abstract

The present study sought to investigate the effects of alcoholic white cabbage extract on the thyroid gland by analyzing its morphological and functional status in experimental rats. The adult rats at the age of three months were obtained from the Animal House of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Tikrit University in one month (9/9/2024 to 2024/10/9). Twelve mature male albino rats (weighing between 250 and 300 g) were randomly assigned to three equal groups. Each group included four rats. The first group (G1) served as the control group, the second group (G2) was given cabbage extract at a dose of (100 mg per kg of body weight orally) three days a week for a month, and the third group (G3) received the same dose daily orally for a month. The study found no significant increase (p≤0.05) in serum TSH concentrations in group (G2). However, group (G3) rats showed a significant increase compared to the control group (G1). Blood concentrations of T3 and T4 significantly decreased (at p≤0.05) in groups (G2) and (G3) compared to the (G1) group. Histological data for the groups (G2 and G3) show a detectable alteration. Follicle size revealed aberrant, non-homogeneous colloid with a lack of vacuoles, vacuolar degeneration in follicular cells, loss of follicular cells in certain follicles, and follicles of various sizes packed with colloid and enclosed by columnar to flat epithelium. Group (G3) had enlarged or dilated follicles, no peripheral vacuoles, scalloped colloid in some follicles with flattened epithelium, degraded follicular epithelial cells, and bleeding. According to the study, cabbage extract administration causes significant histological changes in albino rats' thyroid glands, such as vacuolar degeneration, collagen fiber deposition, sloughing of follicular cells, scalloping of colloid, flat epithelium, and reduced serum concentrations of T3 and T4, potentially leading to an increase in TSH levels in the blood.