Toxicity of palmitoyl glycerol to mice: depression of thyroid function.

Abstract

Mice given propylthiouracil, a thyroid inhibitor, and fed a diet containing a nontoxic level of rac-1(3)-palmitoyl glycerol showed the hypothermia and mortality expected for a toxic dose, but did not show these signs when linoleate or oleate was added to the diet. Loss of radioiodine from the whole animal and thyroid gland was slower when mice were fed the toxic palmitoyl glycerol diet than when fed the same diet containing 4% safflower oil. However, mice fed the two diets did not differ in the extent of the incorporation of radioiodine, and essentially all was bound to protein in each case. Follicular thyroid cells from mice fed the potentially toxic diet that contained unsaturated fat were normal in appearance. Conversely, cells from mice fed the toxic diet were smaller and more densely stained, showing evidence of glycoprotein inside the cell. These findings show that the thyroid gland is affected by the palmitoyl glycerol diet. However, the thyroid is not the only organ affected, because giving either thyroxine or triiodothyronine had no effect on the toxicity of palmitoyl glycerol.

• Authors: P R Trumbo, D J Meuten, M W King, S B Tove
• Journal: The Journal of nutrition (J Nutr) Vol. 117 Issue 10 Pg. 1780-7 (Oct 1987) ISSN: 0022-3166 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3117986 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Glycerides
• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Thyroid Hormones
• Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
• Propylthiouracil
• Safflower Oil
• palmitoyl glycerol

Topics

• Animals
• Depression, Chemical
• Glycerides (toxicity)
• Hypothermia (chemically induced)
• Iodine Radioisotopes (metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Propylthiouracil (toxicity)
• Safflower Oil (pharmacology)
• Thyroid Gland (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Thyroid Hormones (blood)
• Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (pharmacology)