EFFECT OF MERCURIC CHLORIDE ON THE THYROID FUNCTION IN RATS
Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) intraperitoneally administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats was associated with decrease in 24-hr thyroid 131I-Uptake, thyroid weight, serum protein bound131I, conversion ratio and thyroid-to-serum131I ratio. Chromatographic analyses of pronase-thyroid hydrolysates of the HgCl2-treated rats revealed a depression in synthesis of thyroid hormones. The thyroid function in male Sprague-Dawley rats seemed to be more susceptible to HgCl2 than in male Wistar rats, while no significant difference was observed between both sexes of Wistar rats.
