Effect of Selenium on Carbimazole-Induced Histopathological and Histochemical Alterations in Prostate of Albino Rats

Carbimazole is an antithyroid drug used in treatment of hyperthyroidism. The present study is undertaken to evaluate the effect of carbimazole in prostate of albino rats and the ameliorative role of selenium. Treating rats with carbimazole(1.35mg/Kg b.w) daily for 8 weeks caused distinct histological alterations in prostate gland compared with control group. The epithelial cells of prostatic acini exhibited degeneration. Hyperplasia were projected into the lumens of the prostatic acini or to the outside stroma. Most of the intertubular blood vessels were congested. Histomorphological results showed that the heights of the epithelial cells were significantly reduced and the thickness of smooth muscle layer increased. Prostate gland of animals treated with carbimazole showed gradual decrease in the polysaccharide, protein and nucleic acids contents. These results were time-dependent. Treating animals with carbimazole and selenium showed an improvement in the histological structure as well as histochemical components of the prostate gland. It is suggested that the ameliorative effect of selenium against the histological and histochemical changes induced by carbimazole may be due to its antioxidant properties.