Background: Amiodarone causes thyroid dysfunction.
Objective: explore the possible therapeutic effect of L-carnitine and exosomes on amiodarone induced thyroid follicular cells toxicity.
Materials and Methods: Sixty-two rats divided into 7 groups. Group I (control). Group II (amiodarone treated): administered orally in adose of 60 mg/kg for 6 weeks. Group III (L-carnitine treated): given in a dose of 500 mg/ kg for 4weeks. Group IV (exosomes treated): Rats were given 3 doses of exosomes. Six rats from ten were scarificed after the last dose forming group IV. The other four rats stay other 10 days forming group VII. Group V (L-carnitine and exosomes). Group VI (recovery group).Group VII (exosomes withdrawal).
Results: Groups II and VI showed loss of normal follicular architecture. The follicular epithelial cells showed more than one layer with atypical nuclear features. The interfollicular tissue showed congested vessels and infiltrates. Ultrathin sections of these groups showed follicular epithelium with irregular nuclei. The cytoplasm showed dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and degenerated mitochondria. Furthermore, there was intense positive collagen and Ki-67 in these groups (p < 0.01). Groups III, IV, V and VII showed improvement. Biochemical Results: a significant increase in TSH in groups II and VI in comparison to control. While, there was a significant decrease in the levels of FT3 and FT4. Serum TSH levels were decreased in groups III, IV, VII and V. while, free T3 and T4 levels were increased.
Conclusion: L-carnitine and exosomes can improve thyroid dysfunction.