SIX-WEEK TREATMENT WITH UKRAIN IN RABBITS. PART III: SERUM LEVELS OF THYROID HORMONES

JAGIELLO-WÓJTOWICZ E., KLEINROK Z., FELDO M., CHODKOWSKA A., SZKLARCZYK V., URBANSKA E.M.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University School, Lublin, Poland.

Address for correspondence: E. Jagiello-Wójtowicz, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University School, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland. Tel/Fax: +48-81-747 89 24

Summary: The influence of 6-week treatment with Ukrain at doses of 0.3, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg i.v. on serum levels of thyroid hormones, i.e., thyroxine and triiodothyronine, was studied in rabbits of both sexes. Ukrain affected the serum levels of both hormones in males. An increase in the thyroxine level was found after Ukrain used at a dose of 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg i.v., whereas increased triiodothyronine was noted when Ukrain was given at all studied doses. In females the thyroxine level was not altered by Ukrain administration, whereas the triiodothyronine concentration was increased following Ukrain at 0.3, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg i.v. It is probable that the altered thyroid hormone levels as a result of Ukrain application may contribute to the drug's potent immunomodulatory action.