Hypothyroidism Exacerbates Thrombophilia in Female Rats Fed with a High Fat Diet

Abstract

Clotting abnormalities are discussed both in the context with thyroid dysfunctions and obesity caused by a high fat diet. This study aimed to investigate the impact of hypo-, or hyperthyroidism on the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), a master indicator of clotting activation, on Sprague Dawley rats fed a normal or high fat diet. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 66) were grouped into normal diet (ND; n = 30) and high-fat diet (HFD; n = 36) groups and subdivided into controls, hypothyroid and hyperthyroid groups, induced through propylthiouracil or triiodothyronine (T3) treatment, respectively. After 12 weeks of treatment ETP, body weight and food intake were analyzed. Successfully induced thyroid dysfunction was shown by T3 levels, both under normal and high fat diet. Thyroid dysfunction was accompanied by changes in calorie intake and body weight. In detail, compared to euthyroid controls, hypothyroid rats showed significantly increased-and hyperthyroid animals significantly decreased-ETP levels. High fat diet potentiated these effects in both directions. In summary, we are the first to show that hypothyroidism and high fat diet potentiate the thrombotic capacity of the clotting system in Sprague Dawley rats. This effect may be relevant for cardiovascular disease where thyroid function is poorly understood as a pathological contributor in the context of clotting activity and obesogenic nutrition.

Keywords: Sprague Dawley rats; endogenous thrombin potential (ETP); fat feeding; hyperthyroidism; hypothyroidism.

Figure 1

Levels of endogenous thrombin potential within the different treatment groups of hypo-, normo-, and hyperthyreote rats. Rats with hypothyreosis who receive a high fat diet show by far the highest endogenous thrombin potential levels. Hypothyroid rats under normal diet have also significantly increased endogenous thrombin potential levels compared to the euthyreote control group.