MORPHOFUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THYROID GLAND OF MALE WISTAR RATS IN CASE OF PROLONGED ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF VOLUNTARY INTAKE

The aim of the work: the investigation of the morphofunctional features of the thyroid gland of male Wistar rats depending on the dose of consumed alcohol under the conditions of voluntary intake. The levels of thyrothrophin (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4) and morphometric parameters of thyroid gland were estimated. Depending on the individual alcohol consumption three subgroups of rats were distinguished: with low (3,14±0,19 g/kg per day), medium (7,23±0,54 g/kg per day) and high consumption (13.51±1.12 g/kg per day). TSH concentration increased for the animals with medium and low consumption, being within normal limits for the animals with high consumption. The T4 level decreased in groups with medium and high consumption, T3 decreased only in the group with medium consumption. Under the conditions of voluntary intake alcohol induced an apparent activating effect onto the thyroid gland independently of the dose, which consisted in a mass increase and the increase of the nuclei area and thyrocyte height. The detected differences in rat alcohol consumption and the intensity of the activation signs of the thyroid gland under the conditions of voluntary intake can be stipulated by the genetically determined body properties.