Assessment of therapy in goitrous goats through some cardiac function tests J.L. Singh a,* , M.C. Sharma b , Mahesh Kumar a , S.K. Rastogi a , G.C. Gupta a , S.P. Singh a , L.D. Sharma a , V.K. Gandhi c , Kalicharan d a College of Veterinary Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar 263145, Uttaranchal, India b Division of Medicine, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India c Cardiac Care Centre, Priyadarshini Nagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India d Division of Pathology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India Accepted 24 February 2002 Abstract Of eight clinically endemic goitrous goats procured locally, six were treated with sodium thyroxine at 0.2 mg per day per goat orally for 100 days. Histopathology of heart in two untreated and two treated goats revealed extensive fatty vacuolization of myocardial ®bers in the former group, which was replaced by granularity in the latter group. There was higher plasma total cholesterol and lipids in goitrous goats 293:67  11:93 and 915:51  81:0 mg/dl, respectively) compared to thyroxine treated animals 97:50  7:78 and 528:54  64:3 mg/dl, respectively). Plasma thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels were lower 3:06  0:53 mg/dl and 125:9833:94 ng/dl, respectively) in goitrous goats than treated goats 8:62  0:71 mg/dl and 209:24  7:84 ng/dl, respectively). Goitre was also accompanied by severe hypoglycemia. Plasma AST enzyme activity declined while lactate dehydrogenase LDH) activity increased following treatment. Plasma sodium and potassium levels also became signi®cantly improved with the treatment. Electrocardiographic ECG) data suggested signi®cant improvement in `R' wave amplitude, `PQ' interval, normalization of ¯attened `P' wave and heart rate post-treatment. The results suggested overall improvement in cardiovascular functions following thyroxine therapy of goitrous goats. # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. Keywords: Goitre; Goat; Thyroid hormones; ECG; Biochemical pro®le 1. Introduction Goitre is quite prevalent 5.66±24.30%) in various parts of India RajKumar, 1970; Dudani and Natu, 1978; Raina and Pachauri, 1984; Ramakrishna et al., 1992) and in Himalayan Tarai areas of Uttaranchal, it is an endemic problem. Attempts have been made to determine the extent of iodine de®ciency, to clinically evaluate goitre in animals and humans and to evaluate various therapeutic agents. Thyroxine has been tried as a treatment in humans Nordoy et al., 1976) and dog Ettinger and Feldman, 1995) since in goitrous cases, de®ciency of thyroxine occurs. Reduction in cardiac output McDonald, 1980), ventricular dilation Abrahm et al., 1987) and arrhyth- mia and unstable heart beat Kurza et al., 1997) occur due to thyroxine de®ciency in goitrous calves. Bradycardia, hyponatramia, hypoglycemia, hyperch- olesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia associated with hypothyroidism have also been reported in small animals Ettinger and Feldman, 1995). Chan and Kilby 2000) have assessed the effects of goitre Small Ruminant Research 44 2002) 119±124 * Corresponding author. 0921-4488/02/$ ± see front matter # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. PII:S0921-448802)00049-4