yROIDECTOMY ON TOTAL AND DIFFERENTIAL, LEUKOCYTE COUNT IN RAT THE EFFECT OF 7! 25, 19 (Received October 154 1990} ‘Accepted November 25, 1990) ©, Adeniyi & M, E, Ononoze siology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, jartment of Human Phy: edie a P.M. B, 2094, Jos, Nigeria. ‘Thvroidectomy significantly increased the total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, The thyroidectomized rats were however observed to have significantly Tower lymphocyte values, The results suggest that thyrotdec tomy predisposes rats to infection, Adeniyi and Olowookorun* presented evidence suggesting that thyroidectomy influences the number of circulating erythrocytes in ratss Schmid-Gchonbein’ reported thal circulating granulocytes play an important role in microvascular perfusion and organ pathology. Camparad with redcells, granulocytes are large, stiff celle that can adhere strongly to the vascular endothelium and this may cause accumulation of granulocytes in the microcirculation and obstruct capillaries and cause cardiovasculat nea eects aoe kinetics in the circulation during hypathyrol- i P lerstand better the functioning of the cardiovascular system it ypothyroid subjects. This paper is extension of the author's earlier work on haemt ological changes observed in thyroldectomized and thyroxine-treated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult male Wistar strain rats woig hing 1 7 : control, thyroldectomized and thyroidectomised rao ot® Mvided into three grouPs fomized rats treated with thyroxine, Surgict!Rat Thyroidectomy and Leukocyte Count [14st tnyroldectomy was performed using ether anaesthesia. After the thyroid glands swore totally extirpated, the rats were checked to be sure that the external parathy- voids were intact. After surgery, rat chow and tap water were provided ad-libitum for a period of 30 days. The rals in the control group were also provided with fat Ghowand. tap water adclibitum for 30 days, Thyroidectomized rats treated with thyroxine were given thyroxine (6-8 19/1009 body wt}days, AH. Cox and Co., Barnstaple U.K), for 30 days. The thyroxine tablets were grinded and administered thraugh the drinking water. Blood Sampling and Analysis Rats were anaesthetized wilh ether, aftor which heart blood was collected in EDTA anticoagulant, between 8 and 9a-m. The samples of blood were immediately subjected to standard haematological analysis vide Schalm et al All results are expressed as means standard errors, Statistical comparl~ sons between the various experimental groups were performed using the student's two-tailed test for unpaired data. RESULTS The result shows (Table 1.) that the value for total leucocyte count obtained for thyroidectomized rats (83834.22.40 cells/mm*) was significantly (P<0.001) higher than the values obtained for normal rate (5088: 18.3 cells/inm*) and thyro.dectamized Tate treated with thyroxine (6091-21-40 cells/mm’). ‘Table 2 shows the differential leukocyte values of normal, thyroldectomized and thyroidectomized rats treated With thyroxine. The lymphocyte value for the thyroidectomized rats (72,90+0.49%) ‘was significantly (P <0.001) lower than the values obtained tor normal rats (78.75 O80) and thyroidectomized rato treated with thyroxine (16.76+.0.87%). The neutro- phil value for the thyroidectomized rats (27.28+1.07%) was the highest (P <0.001} DISCUSSION ‘The values obtained in this study for total and differential leukocyte countaad Adonlyl & Qnonoze hyroidectomized and Thyroid, Typas of Adult Initial Body Final Body Daily water WBC Rats walght wolaht consumption count (a) (o) (a) (colls/mm') Normal 138.5 2481 372.1 5083 A 126.90. £14.07 18.33 Thyroidectomized rats 138.5 254.2 373.5 Sov treated 48,02 14,02 21.40 with thyroxine Thyroidectomized 1395 eet 2595 8333 5.40 {Std £19.49 422,40¢ Each value represents mean -: S, E. of 10 observations. *P <0.001 compared with the value for control rats. Table 2—Differential Leukocyte Count in Normal, Thyroidectomized and Thyroidectomized Ruts treated with Thyroxine Types of Adult Lymphocyte Monocyte Basophil — Neutr- —_Eosino- Rato ophil phil (%) Wo) ) (A) 3) Normal 78.754-0,50 0.0::0 0 0.25451 20,50 0.5 - £0.91 14 Thyroidectomized rats treated 76.76:1-0.87 1.254:1.69 0.25:E1 20.75 125% with thyroxine £1.29 0.96 Thyroidectomized —72,50-1:0.43* 1.25 0.514 27.254 1.254 £1.07 0.81 Each value roprosonts mei 5. P wi 08 an +t: S. E, of LO vbservat a the value for normal rats, eS DOsRat Thyroldectomy and Leukocyte Count (443 for normal rats were consistent with literature values tor this species of animal? The result further showed that the values obtained for the group of thyroidectomized ral and treated .with thyroxine were Identical. This can be interpreted to mean that the dose of thyroxine used was appropriate and was able to forestall the effects vf thyrvidectomy, It was observed’ presently that the thyrvidectomized rats had significant Increase In total leukocyte and neutrophil counts. This group of rats alsv had significantly lower lymphocyte value. The neutrophilic leukocytosis and the accompanied decline in the numbers of lymphocytes observed in the thyroidectomi~ zed rats could be interpreted to mean that thyroidectomized. rats. are in a state of mobilising all the available resource to combat an imminent infection. It is there- fore possible that a fall in thyroid hormone titre predisposes rats to infection. The increased neutrophilic granulocytes in the thyroidectomized rats indicates a possible complication in the function of the cardiovascular system of this set of rats*. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We acknowledge the excellont technical assistance of Mr. P, A. Olasehinde and Mr. §.Turei. We are also grateful to Miss Celine C. Uzoaru for her expert ecerctarial assistance. This study was supported by the Faculty of Medicine Grants Nos FMS/RG/89-9/05. REFERENCES 4. Adeniyi, K. 0, and Olowookorun, M. O. (1988. Nig. J. PhYsiol. Sci 4 64, ‘Schmid-Schonbein, G. W. (1986). Leukocyte Rheology, In : “Handbook of Bioengineering" Chapter 13. 3, Schalm, O, W,, dain, N. C., and Carrol, E, J, (1975), Velerinary Haematologs, 8rd edition.