Comparison Study for the Effect of Interleukin -6 and Carbimazole Drug in Rat Thyroid Gland Functions

Abstract

Since the inflammatory factor IL-6 known by its critical role in different metabolic reactions in the
body, therefore, this study was designed to detect it is effect in the thyroid gland function by
injecting three groups of rats, the first with IL-6 , the second with carbimazole (antithyroid drug) and
the third with normal saline (Control).The experiment included three groups of rat; each was injected
with recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL-6), Carbimazole, or normal saline (Control). The results
of experiments showed that both IL-6 and carbimazole caused a decrease in the levels of thyroid
hormones (T3 and T4) in animal sera, and a significant decrease in animal body weight, but had no
effect on the liver weight.There was a significant decrease in glucose level in the animals injected
with carbimazole, while in the IL-6 treated animals there was no change in glucose level. There was
a significant increase in serum level of triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol in
the animals treated with IL-6, while in the animals treated with carbimazole, there was no such
change. Additionally, injection of the animals with IL-6 or carbimazole caused a significant increase
in lymphocyte apoptosis of peripheral blood.