131I thyroid uptake diminution in chronic alcoholism induced in rats (an autohistoradiographic investigation.

The authors studied the 131I thyroid uptake in chronic alcoholism induced in rats (1.5 g alcohol/kg body weight/day) using autohistoradiographic methods. The intensity of 131I uptake was significantly lower in rats which had ingested alcohol: the proportion of follicles with a strong 131I uptake was 5% in alcohol-fed rats as compared to 25% in control rats. The proportion of moderately labeled follicles was decreased too in alcohol-fed rats (34%) as compared to control animals (47%). Concerning the correlation between follicular volume and 131I uptake. It was found that only a reduced percentage (1.8) of follicles with a volume of 50 microm 3 in alcohol-treated rats showed a strong 131I uptake. In the follicles with a volume exceeding 250 microm 3, the uptake was strongly diminished in alcohol-fed animals. In control rats all thyroid follicles showed various percentages of strong 131I uptake. The authors concluded that alcohol might induce a hypothyroidism revealed by 131I uptake diminution.