Propylthiouracil and iodide have been widely used as antithyroid agent. But the histologic changes of thyroid gland caused by those drugs are different.
The effect of iodide and propylthiouracil to the structure of thyroid were investigated in normal Sprague-Dawley rats. Either Lugol´ s solution (5% , 1m2) or propylthiouracil (2.5 mg, im2) was treated orally twice a day. The rats were treated for 3 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively.
In iodide-treated groups, the thyroid revealed inactive follicles until 1 week, but showed normal morphologic features after 2 weeks. In propylthiouracil-treated groups, the follicular epithelial cells became tall columnar cells with few colloid as the duration of treatment increased until 4 weeks. In 8 week-treatment groups, the thyroid structures were similar to those of 4 week-treatment group.
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