Benzyl isothiocyanate disturbs lipid metabolism in rats in a way independent of its thyroid impact following in vivo long-term treatment and in vitro adipocytes studies.

During recent decades, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) was examined mainly in terms of its cancer chemopreventive action. Although some research has been conducted on goitrogenic activity of many glucosinolate derivatives, little attention has been paid to the BITC impact on the thyroid gland and lipid metabolism strictly associated with it. Therefore, this research project aimed at expanding our knowledge about how non-physiological doses of BITC (widely used in chemotherapy) influence some hormonal and metabolic (lipid) parameters in in vivo and in vitro experiments. The trial was focused on BITC action on thyroid tissue, liver, as well as white adipocyte tissue, at doses which were previously proved to exert a strong anticancer effect (10 mg/kg body weight in vivo and 1, 10 and 100 μmol/L in in vitro trials, respectively). Two-week oral administration of BITC in in vivo trial affected thyroid gland by decreasing total thyroxine and triiodothyronine. However, the obtained lipid profile was not specific for thyroid hormone deficiency because no lipid changes in the blood serum and liver steatosis were observed. BITC per se evoked elevation of basal lipolysis at 1 and 100 μmol/L and limitation of basal lipogenesis at 100 μmol/L in adipocyte tissues in in vitro experiment. BITC did not remain indifferent to liver metabolism by its possible influence on hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and 5-deiodinase as well as on adipocytes by its enhanced basal lipolysis and limited lipogenesis independently of epinephrine and insulin action steps, respectively. Additionally, BITC was probably involved in bile flow obstruction.