Hypothyroidism Modeling in Wistar Rats: Comparison of Two Surgical Methods.

Area of Science:

• Comparative Medicine
• Surgical Endocrinology
• Animal Models

Background:

• Hypothyroidism, a condition of insufficient thyroid hormone production, requires reliable animal models for research.
• Surgical induction of hypothyroidism via thyroidectomy is a common method, but variations exist.
• Evaluating different surgical techniques is crucial for optimizing model development and animal welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and compare two distinct surgical models for inducing hypothyroidism in Wistar rats.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of two thyroidectomy methods: ligation of the thyroid artery (TE-I) versus ligation of the thyroid vein (TE-II).
• To validate the created hypothyroidism models using multiple assessment criteria.

Main Methods:

• Eighty male Wistar rats (180-200 g) were divided into sham-operated and two experimental groups.
• Thyroidectomy was performed using two methods: primary ligation of the thyroid artery (TE-I) or primary ligation of the thyroid vein (TE-II).
• Model success was evaluated via postoperative condition, serum hormone levels, histology, and neck ultrasound.

Main Results:

• Both TE-I and TE-II surgical models successfully reproduced hypothyroidism.
• The TE-I model demonstrated significantly lower intra- and post-operative mortality rates.
• The TE-II model offered superior surgical exposure of critical anatomical structures.

Conclusions:

• Two viable surgical models for inducing hypothyroidism in rats were established.
• The choice between TE-I and TE-II depends on the research priority: minimizing mortality (TE-I) or maximizing surgical precision (TE-II).
• These models provide valuable tools for studying hypothyroidism and related physiological processes.