Impact of Benzo (a) Pyrene on Thyroid Glands and their Associated Hormones of Male Mice Mus musculus

Abstract

Benzo [a] pyrene is the main representative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and has been repeatedly found in the air, surface water, soil, and sediments. Human exposure to Benzo [a] pyrene is therefore common. Benzo (a) pyrane (BaP) which is mainly presented in newspaper ink and inhibits the function of the thyroid and other endocrine glands of the human system, due to several disorders that occur in the human body. Healthy mature male mice Mus musculus having weight of 125 ± 5 gm were used for the experiments. The effects of a Benzo (a) pyrene (0.65mg/25g body weight/twice in a week) during experimental periods of 60 and 90 days in male mice Mus musculus showed significant difference in body weights compared to control. We assessed the hormonal estimation of thyroid treated with Benzo (a) pyrene by using an appropriate ELISA assay kit and histopathological changes were observed under a light microscope (magnifications 100X) in the thyroid tissue of male mice Mus musculus exposed to BaP after 60 and 90 days. During the study, we observed that in treated mice thyroid hormone concertation was affected the structure of the thyroid follicles was disturbed and epithelial cells were necrotic compared with the control mice which indicates that the BaP may lead to changes in the thyroid morphology as well as secreted hormone concentration in exposed treated male mice.