Abstract
Occupational exposure to toxic heavy metals renders the industrial workers with various health problems. Many heavy metals act as endocrine disruptors. Chromium salts are commonly used in industries as asbestos brake lining, cement dust and food additives. Thyroid is a metabolically active important endocrine gland. Little is known about the toxic effects of chromium on thyroid. So, the aim of this study was evaluation of the histological changes induced by chromium on thyrocytes and the possible protective role of vitamin C. Forty adult male albino rats were divided into four equal groups: control group, vitamin C treated group, potassium dichromate treated group and the fourth group co treated with potassium dichromate and vitamin C. Potassium dichromate was given intraperitonially for 2 weeks at a dose 2 mg/kg daily. Vitamin C was given at a dose 120 mg/kg orally daily for the same period. Specimens were processed for light and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was evaluated immunohistochemically. Specimens of potassium dichromate group showed disturbance of the normal architecture of the gland with co