FLUORIDE-INDUCED ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY: ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL EXPERIMENTAL STUDY. THE POSSIBLE AMELIORATION EFFECT OF CURCUMIN SUPPLEMENTATION
A. Shashi* and Manisha Tikka
ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to evaluate the curative effect of Curcumin on fluoride induced alterations in the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), steroid hormones, catecholamines and ultrastructural changes. Wistar albino rats were administered with 300 and 600 mg/kg b.w./day of sodium fluoride (NaF) daily for 40 days. The control group was given 1 ml of deionized water/kg b.w./day for the same period. The fluoride treated animals were post-treated with 200 mg/ kg b.w./ day of Curcumin for 20 days. After the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed, adrenal tissue was taken out and blood was collected so as to process further for plasma samples. The levels of fluoride, ACTH, aldosterone, cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine in plasma were measured by using diagnostic kits. There was significant (P<0.0001) increase in the plasma levels of ACTH, and catecholamines while aldosterone and cortisol levels were significantly (P<0.0001) declined after 40 days of fluoride exposure. The ultrastructural examination of the adrenal gland in fluoridated rats showed irregular shaped nucleus, vacuoles of variable sizes and scarce cytoplasmic organelles, swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae, large lipid droplets, numerous ribosomes and dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). The adrenal medulla showed degeneration, damaged mitochondria, irregular nucleus and depletion of secretory granules. All the changes caused by NaF toxicity were reversed by Curcumin. The results suggested that Curcumin was effective in alleviating the toxic effects of NaF on the hypothalamic– pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, catecholamines and ultrastructural changes.
Keywords: Adrenocorticotropic hormone, Aldosterone, Catecholamines, Cortisol, Fluorosis, Transmission electron microscopy.
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