Experimental investigation on iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H-2~(h4) mice / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the kinetic changes of inflammatory cell infiltration and thyroid autoantibodies in the development of iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis in NOD.H-2~(h4)mice.Methods Either 128 five-week-old NOD.H-2~(h4)mice or 128 Kunming mice were randomly divided into two groups,and received plain water or water containing 0.05% sodium iodide.At the time points of 1,2,4,8,12,16,and 24 week after receiving iodinated water,mice were anesthetized by diethyl ether and bled from eye socket vein,and their thyroid glands were collected.Indirect ELISA method was used to measure the levels of serum thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb)and thyroid hormone.After being fixed with paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin,thyroid sections were stained with HE and used for morphometrieal analysis.Results In the iodine treated group of NOD.H-2~(h4) mice,autoimmune thyroiditis was observed as early as 1 week after they began receiving indinated water.The prevalence as well as the degree of autoimmune thyroiditis reached the maximum at 12 weeks and remained until 24 weeks.Serum TgAb level increased after 8 weeks of iodine ingestion in NOD.H-2~(h4) mice,then increased steadily throughout the 24 weeks of experiment.On the contrary,serum TgAb was not increased in the control group of Kunming mice.Conclusion Iodine may induce and exacerbate lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid in genetically susceptible NOD.H-2~(h4) mice,and serum TgAb is just a marker of autoimmune thyroiditis.