Effects of Dust Micro Particles of Asalouyeh Area on the Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands in Rat

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate possible changes in thyroid and parathyroid glands tissues and functional structures. Materials and Methods: About 30 adult male rats were divided into 3 groups: control, negative control (exposed to dust in the clean area free from oil contaminants), and the treatment group (exposed to dust in the polluted area of Asalouyeh with oil hydrocarbons). Before grouping, all the animals were co-cycled. After 25 days of treatment, changes in pancreatic tissue and serum levels of thyroid and parathyroid hormones were measured. Moreover, the amount of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in animals’ serum were measured using atomic absorption. Results: The amount of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury showed a significant increase in the serum of animals in treatment group compared to negative control and also control groups (P ≤ 0.05). Serum levels of thyroid and parathyroid hormones in treatment group showed a significantly decrease in comparison with control groups. In addition, histological investigations demonstrated relative changes in tissue and functional structures of important thyroid and parathyroid glands tissues. Conclusions: Dust of Asalouyeh polluted air had relative toxicity effects on thyroid and parathyroid tissues and their hormones.