ANTIBACTERIAL SULFONAMIDES, ANTIPARASITIC AND ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS DERIVED FROM IMIDAZOLE - ESTIMATION OF ANTITHYROID EFFECTS IN THE RAT

Antithyroid action of some antibacterial, antiparasitic or antifungal agents, was studied by 2 in vitro and 3 in vivo experimentations in th e rat. These drugs can upset thyroid hormone synthesis by forming a mo lecular complex with iodine, and/or by inhibiting thyroid peroxidase a ctivity. Rats treated with these drugs showed an hypothyroidism, demon strated both by a decrease in T4 concentration and an hyperactivity of thyroid gland by positive feed-back, whose consequence was the presen ce of cylindrical cells. We noticed this iatrogenic hypothyroidism wit h all the drugs experimented, by an increase in thyroid gland weight. But the increase of rats body weight which should have appeared, was n ot shown. The use of anabolic steroid is now forbidden, therefore, suc h drugs could be used for breeding animals, in order to gain body weig ht Detection of use of these drugs in breeding, to obtain this side ef fect, should be advised.