Thyroxin, glucose, body growth rate and non-protein nitrogen constituents in albino rats treated with excess potassium iodate

Abstract

The study was aimed to determine median lethal dose (LD50) of potassium iodate and to assess its toxicity in albino rats. The oral LD50 was found to be 752 mg kgí1 body weight. A dose of 1/5 LD50 potassium iodate was then given to animals (n= 36). Control animals (n= 36) received distilled water. Means were compared by independent-samples t-test. Growth rates of experimental animals were decreased, particularly at the first two weeks (27.5 and 24.2%, p= 0.009 and 0.000, respectively). Significant increase in serum thyroxin was observed at the second and third weeks (p= 0.007 and 0.046, respectively). Mean glucose levels were significantly decreased with maximum difference of 26.3% at the fifth week (106.1±4.9 v 78.2±4.2, p= 0.002). Urea was decreased (max difference= 23.6%, mean= 35.6±1.8 v 27.2±1.7, p= 0.007) whereas uric acid and creatinine were increased (max difference= 25.4%, mean= 1.77±0.08 v 2.22±0.12, p= 0.011 and 19.6%, 0.56±0.03 v 0.67±0.03, p= 0.022, respectively).