الفهرس 
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Abstract
Background and objectives: Obesity is closely related to hypothyroidism. Mild thyroid dysfunction is linked to significant changes in body weight. Curcumin is regarded as a preventive agent against obesity. This study aimed to explore the effect of curcumin on the structure of the thyroid gland and the inguinal adipose tissue in propylthiouracil (PTU) induced hypothyroid rat model.
Materials and methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats (weighting 70-80 gm) were divided into three groups: group I (Control, n=18): equally subdivided into: Subgroup Ia (Euthyroid), Subgroup Ib (Euthyroid- corn oil): received 1ml of corn oil and 3 sacrificed after 2 weeks and the other 3 after 6 weeks. Subgroup Ic (Euthyroid- curcumin): received 1ml of corn oil for 2 weeks followed by 1ml of curcumin dissolved in corn oil (100 mg/kg) for another 6 weeks. group II (PTU- hypothyroid, n=12): equally subdivided into: Subgroup IIa (PTU): received daily 5 mg PTU in corn oil for 2 weeks and Subgroup IIb (hypothyroid-Recovery): received daily 5 mg PTU in corn oil for 2 weeks then left for recovery for 6 weeks. group III (hypothyroid- curcumin): received daily 5 mg PTU in corn oil for 2 weeks followed by 1ml of curcumin for 6 weeks. Just before sacrifice, blood samples were collected from all rats to perform the thyroid function tests (free T3, free T4 and TSH).
At sacrifice, the thyroid gland and the inguinal adipose tissue were dissected and processed for the different histological, ultrastructure, immune-histochemical and morphometric analyses.
Results: The follicles of the thyroid gland of subgroup Ic and group III revealed variable densities of colloid with peripheral scalloping. Depletion of the colloid with narrow or even obliterated follicular lumina and papillary projection were detected in subgroup IIa. Follicular lumina were partially filled with dense colloid in subgroup IIb. Areas of brown like adipocytes were detected among white adipocytes in subgroups Ic, IIb and group III. Corrugation of the cell membrane of the adipocytes was evident in subgroup IIa. Collagen fibers were scattered around the cell clusters in subgroup Ic and group III and appeared more dense in between the adipocytes of subgroup IIb. The findings were further confirmed by statistical analysis of the serological and morphometric results.
Conclusion: Curcumin administration either in euthyroid or hypothyroid rats resulted in the appearance of brown like adipocytes (beige cells) in the inguinal adipose tissue and a significant reduction of the mean weight of these rats. Moreover, curcumin exerted a stimulatory effect on the thyroid gland of both euthyroid and hypothyroid rats