| 1449659 |
Ghosh N, Bhattacharya S: Thyrotoxicity of the chlorides of cadmium and mercury in rabbit. Biomed Environ Sci. 1992 Sep;5(3):236-40.
Exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury is of immediate environmental concern. The present study was aimed at establishing a direct relationship between heavy metal poisoning and thyroid dysfunction. Cadmium and mercury treatment at LD50 levels resulted in severe thyrotoxicosis in the rabbit. Within 24 h of intramuscular administration of cadmium chloride 15 mg.kg-1 body weight (bw) and mercury chloride 20 mg.kg-1 bw, thyroid peroxidase activity increased significantly over the control with a concomitant rise in the triiodothyronine (T3) titre. On the other hand, there was a remarkable fall in the thyroxine (T4) level, and the T3/T4 ratio was high as compared with the control. Evidence indicates that acute heavy metal lethality will induce immediate hyperthyroidism. It is suggested that T3-toxicosis may be produced by a preferential synthesis of T3 and/or preferential deiodination of T4 to T3. Measurement of T3 and T4 levels may thus be utilized as a reliable indicator of heavy metal lethality. |
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