Quantitative changes in the frequency and distribution of the C-cell population in the rat thyroid gland with age.
The development of calcitonin cells (C-cells) was investigated in rat thyroid glands from birth to 120 days, using an immunoperoxidase technique and a point-counting method. The proportion of C-cells to follicular cells was 4.5% on the day of birth and increased progressively to 10.4% by 120 days. The highest density of C-cells was noted in the mid-region of the lobes along a longitudinal axis. The caudal and cephalic regions of the lobes contained smaller numbers of C-cells. The C-cells tended to be more numerous in the posterior aspects of the lobes. Although the numbers of C-cells in 120-day-old animal were markedly increased as compared to animals at the time of birth, the cell distributions within the glands were similar at all ages.
Martín-Lacave
I
I
Departamento de Citología e Histología Normal y Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain.
Conde
E
E
Montero
C
C
Galera-Davidson
H
H
D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats / Q000254:growth & development*; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000254:growth & development; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*
D002116:Calcitonin