propylthiouracil and Protein-Energy-Malnutrition

The present study was performed in order to discern the effects of propylthiouracil (PTU) on ethanol and/or protein deficiency-mediated liver histological changes and liver Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn alterations in male adult Wistar rats. The study was performed on 64 animals divided into eight groups, fed with the Leiber-DeCarli control, 36% ethanol-2% protein- and 36% ethanol-2% protein-containing diets, without and with PTU, respectively. PTU was administered at a concentration of 0.05%, an amount which rendered the animals hypothyroid. Two further groups of 5 animals each, with and without PTU respectively, were allowed to consume the control diet ad libitum. Animals treated with PTU showed significantly less fibrosis, but more fat, than animals without PTU. Liver fibrosis was inversely correlated with liver zinc, liver content of this element being higher in the PTU-treated and the ethanol or protein deficiency groups. PTU also reversed ethanol-mediated hepatocyte ballooning and also led to a reduction in nuclear areas.

Topics: Animals; Cell Nucleus; Cell Size; Copper; Ethanol; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic; Iron; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic; Male; Manganese; Propylthiouracil; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Zinc

We studied the effects of thyroid hormones and malnutrition on protein, DNA, and phospholipid content of the developing rat lung during the first month of life. Neonatal hypothyroidism significantly decreases the lung phospholipid content by 30-45% between 5 and 30 days of age whether the results are expressed per milligram DNA or per gram tissue. Administration of thyroxine for 3 days to hypothyroid rats increases significantly (20%) their total phospholipid content, mainly through its preferential effect on phosphatidylcholine (50% increase). Adult animal response to thyroid hormones is markedly different from that observed in young rats for most parameters examined. In malnourished rats, lung tissue phospholipids are decreased per cell but not per unit cell mass after 11 days of age. These results show that hypothyroidism has a specific effect on lung phospholipids during the neonatal period.

Topics: Animals; DNA; Female; Hypothyroidism; Lung; Male; Organ Size; Phosphatidylcholines; Pregnancy; Propylthiouracil; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sphingomyelins

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Female; Fetal Resorption; Fetus; Glucose; Homeostasis; Hypothyroidism; Liver; Liver Glycogen; Organ Size; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Propylthiouracil; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Rats