Effect of thyroxine on fibrinolytic system in rat

Abstract

Thyroid hormones have many effects on the cardiovascular system. Thyroid dysfunction accelerates atherosclerosis not only through conventional risk factors (dyslipidemia) but they also show a very close relationship with hemodynamic parameters. Thyroxine is determinant of the several components of fibrinolytic system even though the exact relationship is far from clear. Present study was carried out to determine the effect of thyroxine on fibrinolytic parameters such as plasminogen activators (PA) in rat heart, levels of PA and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), glucose in plasma and serum lipid profile. Rats were injected with 50 ug eltroxine/100 gm(-1) body weight intraperitoneally for one week. Compared with controls, thyroxine treatment increased PA activity significantly in rat heart. No changes were seen in PA, PAI and glucose in plasma of two groups of rats. A significant decrease in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels was seen in serum of treated group resulting in the decrease of LDL/HDL and Total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratios. These results suggest that thyroxine treatment may have considerable clinical significance. It raised PA activity in heart as well as reduced cholesterol content in blood. It is possible that thyroxine treatment may confer a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk.