TOXIC INFLUENCE OF DICOFOL ON THYROID GLAND IN FEMALE PUBERTAL RATS.

Evidences for thyroid disruption due to organochlorine exposure are increasing. The present study investigated the toxic influence of dicofol, an organochlorine pesticide on thyroid gland in female pubertal rats. The experiments were carried out in three equal groups of animals from PND 22 to 60 day .Two groups received dicofol orally at 5.87(1/100 LD50) and 19.27(1/30 LD50) mg/kg body wt. The third group was kept as control. Daily body weight was checked during the exposure period. Upon completion of exposure blood samples were taken for thyroid hormone estimation and thyroid gland was dissected, weight determined and processed for histopathological studies. There was a dose dependent significant decrease in the body weight gain in dicofol treated groups when compared with control. A significant increase in the thyroid weight was observed in high dose treated group. Histological studies of thyroid revealed degenerative changes in a dose dependent manner. The serum T3,T4 and TSH levels also indicate such a hypoactive thyroid, similar with histological results. These data suggest that exposure to dicofol may cause a hypofunctioning of thyroid gland.