[Animal modeling] - Analysis of thyroid function in rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia

  Objective To explore the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and thyroid function in rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia.

  Methods SD rats were divided into control group, CIH group and reoxygenation (RH) group; The expression levels of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), tricarbonyl acid (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in serum of rats in each group were detected by radioimmunoassay; HE staining and toluidine blue staining were used to observe the pathological changes of thyroid tissue of rats in each group; The ultrastructural changes of thyroid tissue were observed by electron microscope.

  Results The saturation of blood oxygen was 70% ~ 92% and the partial pressure of arterial oxygen was 60.7 ~ 80.1 mmHg in CIH and RH groups, which were close to the pathophysiological characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. Therefore, the animal model of CIH was successfully established. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of TRH, TSH, T3 and T4 in the serum of CIH group rats decreased significantly (all P<0.05), and the thyroid mass increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the CIH group, the expression levels of TRH, TSH, T3 and T4 in the serum of RH group rats increased significantly (all P<0.05), and the thyroid mass decreased (P ≤ 0.05). HE staining and toluidine blue staining showed that there were complete thyroid follicles in thyroid tissue of rats in control group; In CIH group, the normal follicular structure of thyroid gland was lost, and some follicular cells showed vacuoles and dark basal nuclei; The thyroid tissue of rats in RH group showed normal follicular structure, but some follicular cells were still vacuolated with dark nuclei. Electron microscopy showed that the thyroid gland of control group had normal follicular cells; In CIH group, the nucleus of thyroid follicular cells contracted, heterochromatin increased and matrix lost; The thyroid gland of rats in RH group had complete follicular cell structure.

  Conclusion CIH can lead to the disorder of thyroid function regulation in rats. Resumption of oxygen inhalation can partially restore thyroid function to normal.