Effect of Curcumin on the Plasticity of Inguinal Adipose Tissue in Experimental Model of Hypothyroidism in Rat: Histological Study

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 inguinal adipose tissue in Propylthiouracil (PTU) induced hypothyroid rat model. Materials and methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: Group I (Control, n=18): equally subdivided into: Subgroup Ia (Euthyroid), Subgroup Ib (Euthyroidcorn oil): received 1ml of corn oil and sacrificed after 2 and 6 weeks. Subgroup Ic (Euthyroidcurcumin): received 1ml of corn oil for 2 weeks followed by 1ml of curcumin solution for another 6 weeks. Group II (PTUhypothyroid, n=12): equally subdivided into: Subgroup IIa (PTU): received daily 5 mg PTU in corn oil for 2 weeks and Subgroup IIb (Recovery): received daily 5 mg PTU in corn oil for 2 weeks then left for recovery for 6 weeks. Group III (hypothyroidcurcumin): received 5 ml of PTU for 2 weeks followed by 1ml of Curcumin for 6 weeks. At sacrifice, the inguinal adipose tissue was dissected and processed for different histological, ultrastructure, immunohistochemically and morphometric analyses. Results: Areas of brown like adipocytes were detected among white adipocytes in Groups Ic, IIb and III. corrugated adipocytes’ cell membrane was evident in subgroup IIa. Densely stained collagen appeared around the cell clusters in subgroup IIb. Findings were further confirmed by statistical analysis of the morphometric results. Conclusion: Curcumin resulted in the appearance of brown like adipocytes in between WAT in the inguinal region.