title: The effect of radiation on thyroid C cells.
abstract: To study the effects of radiation from 131I on thyroid C cells, new born rats were given 0.5 or 10 muCi 131I and studied at 3 monthly intervals over 2 years. Routine stains, calcitonin immunolocalization and quantitation were used to study follicular and C cells. Both radiation doses led to almost complete disappearance of C cells, with only scattered morphological abnormal surviving cells. After a year, some animals showed focal reappearance of C cells; these isolated cluster were interpreted as clones of cells, derived after a considerable lag period, from the very few surviving C cells which had not been sterilized. This focal regeneration was dose dependent. It is concluded that C cells are much more radiosensitive to radiation from 131I than follicular cells. These observations support the use of 131I therapy in the treatment of post-operative thyroid deposits of medullary carcinoma.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes