title: Thyroid follicular morphogenesis mechanism: organ culture of the fetal gland as an experimental approach.
abstract: The morphological and physiological changes induced by organ culture and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation in the rat fetal thyroid gland were studied. Organ culture increased Golgi activity which was further enhanced by TSH, subsequently facilitating the formation of intracellular lumina. TSH also raised the intracellular cAMP level. The intracellular lumina observed during follicular morphogenesis are structurally comparable to typical intracellular cavities formed in adult thyroid cells, which are considered as being the result of increased Golgi activity. The intracellular lumen, therefore, is probably not a physiologically significant step in thyroid morphogenesis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D000242:Cyclic AMP