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Experimental rat models for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

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Abstract

Purpose

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune thyroid disease characterized by T lymphocyte-mediated destruction of thyroid follicles. To study the pathogenesis of HT and the efficacy of new substances for its treatment, an easily obtained and adequate to the human disease experimental model is needed. The aim of our study was to find out whether it is possible to induce experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) similar to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis by injecting with thyroglobulin (Tg) without using agents that enhance its thyroiditogenicity and without taking into account the genetic sensitivity of animals.

Methods

Wistar rats were immunized with freshly isolated rat Tg or porcine Tg. In 8 weeks, histological studies of the thyroid and parathyroid glands were performed. Thyroid function and total serum calcium level were also evaluated.

Results

Immunization with both rat and porcine freshly isolated Tg caused T lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland, thyroid follicle atrophy and degradation in Wistar rats. EAT caused by porcine Tg was characterized by greater severity than EAT induced with rat Tg. In 55% of rats with porcine Tg-induced EAT, oxyphilic metaplasia was detected in the parathyroid glands. In addition, low total serum calcium was observed in these rats.

Conclusion

Two rat models of autoimmune thyroiditis were obtained. EAT caused in Wistar rats by immunization with rat Tg is similar to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. EAT induced with porcine Tg was accompanied by oxyphil cell metaplasia in the parathyroids and hypocalcemia.

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Data availability

The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project number 0827–2020-0012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Immunology, Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Udmurt State University, 1 Universitetskaya St., Izhevsk, Russian Federation, 426034

    L. Beduleva, A. Sidorov, K. Fomina, A. Terentiev, I. Menshikov, N. Shklyaeva & P. Ivanov

  2. Laboratory of Biocompatible Materials, Udmurt Federal Research Center UB RAS, 34 T. Baramzinoy St., Izhevsk, Russian Federation, 426067

    L. Beduleva, A. Sidorov, K. Fomina, A. Terentiev, I. Menshikov & V. Varaksin

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  1. L. Beduleva
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  2. A. Sidorov
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Contributions

Conceptualization: LB. Investigation: AS, LB, KF, AT, NS, PI, VV. Writing—original draft: LB, AS, KF. Writing—review and editing: IM.

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Correspondence to L. Beduleva.

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Research involving human participants and/or animals

Animal experiments were performed in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines, the U.K. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986, and EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments. The protocol and procedures employed were ethically reviewed and approved by the Bioethics Committee of Udmurt State University (Date 18/01/2021/No. 2102).

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Beduleva, L., Sidorov, A., Fomina, K. et al. Experimental rat models for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. J Endocrinol Invest 47, 1205–1214 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-023-02240-y

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