The effect of oral levothyroxine sodium on serum zn, fe, ca and mg levels during acute copper sulfate toxication in rabbits

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of oral levothyroxine sodium (T(4)) application on some serum mineral (Zn, Fe, Ca and Mg) concentrations during CuSO(4) toxication (1%). Forty male New Zealand rabbits (6 months-old, weighing 2.16+/-0.08 kg) were allocated to 4 groups. All groups received 1% CuSO(4) (*5H(2)O) (Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate M1 02787) in drinking water. Except for control group (group A), T(4) was orally applied to 3 experimental groups at doses of 1.67 (group B), 3.33 (group C) and 6.67 mu g kg(-1) per bw per day (group D) for 2 days. Serum Cu measurements were performed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer equipped with Flame system. Serum Zn levels in groups C and D were higher than in. group A, while serum Ca levels in groups C and D were found to be lower than in group A (p<0.05), on the last day. There were significant differences for all mineral levels with respect to time (p<0.001). There was also a significant interaction between the dose of T(4) applied (groups A-D) and time (p<0.01), except for Fe levels (p>0.05). However, there were significant differences only in. Zn and Ca levels in. multiple comparisons (p<0.05). A significant correlation was also found between T(4) and Zn (r: -0.537, p<0.001) as well as T(4) and Ca (r:-0.593, p<0.001) levels. In addition, administration of T(4) along with 1% CuSO(4) affected serum Zn, Ca and Mg levels significantly (p<0.05). At the result, T(4) administration at different doses with 1% CuSO(4) caused an increase in serum Zn but a decrease in serum Ca levels. However, the administration of this combination showed no significant effect on serum Fe and Mg levels.