Cholecalciferol (Vit. D3) affects thyroid histology and function in orchidectomized middle-aged males rats

Abstract

Elevated blood level of vitamin D is associated with multiple health benefits. However, vitamin D deficiency is common among the elderly population. Despite multiple cellular targets in both adjacent thyroid C cells and chief parathyroid cells, little is known about how vitamin D affects thyroid follicles and their function in thyroid hormone production. In this study we administered 50mg of vitamin D3 (that corresponds to 2000IU/daily), during three weeks, to orchidectomized middle-aged male rats, which we used as a model of andropause with osteoporosis. After animals’ decapitation, thyroid tissues were histologically analyzed and serum concentrations of total T4 and TSH were determined by the corresponding rat ELISAs. In comparison with the controls, which received the same amount of the sterile olive oil, thyroids of Vit.D3-treated rats were characterized by interstitial C cell hyperplasia, while the follicular tissue remained preserved.