Inhibition of thyroid iodine uptake and organification in rats treated with kojic acid

In order to elucidate the mechanisms of reduction of serum thyroid hormones caused by continuous administration of kojic acid (KA) and its thyroid tumor-promotion effects, male F344 rats were given pulverized basal diet containing 0.008%, 0.03%, 0.125%, 0.5%, or 2% KA for 4 weeks. As an untreated control group, additional rats were given basal diet alone for the same period. The thyroid I-125 uptake was significantly decreased in the groups receiving 0.03% or more. In addition, significant reduction of organic formation of iodine and serum T3 and T4 levels were observed in the 2% KA group along with pronounced elevation of serum (TSH). Both absolute and relative thyroid weights were significantly increased in the groups receiving 0.5% of KA or more. Histopathologically, decreased colloid in the thyroid follicles and follicular cell hypertrophy in the thyroid were apparent at high incidences in the groups given 0.03% or more. In addition, thyroid capsular fibrosis was evident in all rats of the 2% KA group. In quantitative morphometrical analysis, the ratio of the area of follicular epithelial cells to the area of colloids was significantly increased in the groups given 0.03% KA or more. The results suggest that KA alteration of thyroid-related hormone levels in the 2% KA group are due to inhibition of iodide uptake and iodine organification in the thyroid, with tumor-promoting effects on development of thyroid proliferative lesions, probably secondary to prolonged serum TSH stimulation resulting from negative feedback through the pituitary-thyroid axis.