Influence of thyroid dysfunction on liver lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in experimental rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dysthyroidism on lipid peroxidation, antioxidants status, liver, and serum dysfunction parameters in the hypo-/hyperthyroidism-induced rats. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism conditions were induced for 5 weeks by administration of 0.05% benzythiouracile (BTU) and l-thyroxine sodium salt (0.0012%), in drinking water, respectively. The enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the lipid peroxidation product; thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) were measured in liver as indicators of oxidative damage. However, liver dysfunction parameters represented by the activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), were measured in serum. In hyperthyroidism rats, the TBARS contents of liver have significantly increased compared to those in hypothyroid rats and the controls (p<0.001), associated with a fall of the total antioxidant status (TAS) in the serum of the hyperthyroid rats. The SOD, CAT, and GPx activities in liver of hyperthyroid rats have significantly increased compared to hypothyroid rats and the controls (p<0.001). The AST, ALT, LDH, GGT, and ALP activities increased in the hyperthyroidism rats (p<0.05). We conclude that thyroid dysfunction induces oxidative stress and modifies some biochemical parameters of liver. Our results show the occurrence of a state of oxidizing stress in relation to hyperthyroidism.