Fucus vesiculosus Ameliorates Histological and Biochemical Changes in Thyroid Gland and Ovary of Irradiated Rats

The present study was designed to determine the possible protective effects of Fucus vesiculosus, a brownish-green seaweed, against gamma- radiation-induced oxidative damage in thyroid gland and ovary tissues of female albino rats. Fucus vesiculosus (100 mg/kg body weight/ day) was given to rats, via gavages for 30 consecutive days prior exposure to irradiation (4 Gy) and the last dose of Fucus vesiculosis was administered 60 minutes before irradiation. Thyroid gland and ovary were taken for histological study and blood samples for biochemical analysis on the 7th and 15th day post irradiation. In the irradiated group, the histological observations of thyroid gland sections showed distortion of the thyroid follicles together with apparent swelling of the follicular cells, vacuolated cytoplasm, and ill-defined cell boundaries of the follicular epithelium. Observations of ovary sections showed dissolution of the majority of primary follicles, immature follicles and increased fibroblasts and inflammatory cells surrounded the dissolved follicles. Biochemical analysis in the blood showed a significant decrease in serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4) follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Also, a significant decrease was observed in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities. Moreover, blood glutathione (GSH) content was decreased. Treatment with Fucus vesiculosus (100 mg/kg) was found to offer significant protection against gamma radiation-induced toxicity in the tissues, which was evident by improved status of most investigated parameters. These results suggest that Fucus vesiculosus could increase the antioxidant defense systems and may protect from adverse effects of whole body gamma radiation