Influence of development on the number of calcitonin-containing cells in the mouse thyroid.
Calcitonin-containing cells in serial, 6-micrometer sections of the thyroid glands of Swiss Webster mice, at 1 day, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of age, were demonstrated by an immunoperoxidase method, using antiserum to human calcitonin. C-cell nuclei were counted in every sixth section of both left and right lobes. The average number of C-cells counted in the thyroid glands of 8-week-old animals was 18-fold, 5.5-fold and 2.5-fold greater than the number observed in 1-day, 2-week and 4-week-old animals, respectively. C-cell concentration was found to be greatest in 4-week-old mice. Mitoses of C-cells were observed in animals which were 1 day, 2 weeks and four weeks old. No mitotic figures were seen in 8-week-old animals. A few C-cells were seen in close association with neurons. The volume of the thyroid glands of 8-week-old animals was about 14-, 4- and 3-fold greater than the volume in the 1-day-old, 2-week-old and 4-week-old mice, respectively. These changes in the C-cell population during development provide a model for the study of C-cell proliferation and storage of calcitonin.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin; D002452:Cell Count; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development
D002116:Calcitonin