EFFECT OF TARTRAZINE ORALLY ADMINISTERED ON THYROID HORMONES AND THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE OF ALBINO RATS

*Elekima Ibioku, Nwachuku Edna Ogechi and Ben-Chioma Adline Erinma

ABSTRACT

The effect of tartrazine orally administered on thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone on albino rats were evaluated. Thirty rats (30) weighing approximately 0.14kg were used for the experiment. The rats were divided into five groups namely C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5. Each group consist of six (6) rats. When the data obtained were analysed statistically, Group 1 (control) had 0.1900 ± 0.0872; 2.618 ± 0.6002 and 0.8300 ± 0.3712 for TSH, T4 and T3 respectively. Group 2 had 0.2000 ± 0.2800; 2.758 ± 0.3704 and 1.243 ± 0.3806 for TSH, t3 and t3 while group 3 had 0.1467 ± 0.0242; 2.893 ± 0.6330 and 0.9150 ± 0.2367 for TSH, T4 and T3 respectively. In addition, group 4 had 0.1100 ± 0.0179; 2.878 ± 0.1217 and 1.448 ± 0.2498 for TSH, T4 and T3 respectively and finally, group 5 0.0933 ± 0.0301; 3.447 ± 0.6836 and 1.230 ± 0.4808 respectively. The comparison between group 1 (control) and group 2, group 1 and group 3 and group 1 and group 4 were compared, TSH, T4 and T3 were not significant except in group 1 and group 4 were T3 was significant at p<0.05. When group 1 and group 5 were compared, TSH and T4 were significant at p<0.05 while T3 was not significant at p<0.05. This study revealed that oral intake of synthetic dye such as tartrazine especially in high doses led to increase in thyroid hormones and reduction in TSH of albino rats.

Keywords: Tartrazine, Triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), TSH.