title: C-cells in colloid goiter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to quantitatively evaluate C-cells in colloid goiters, analyzing 36 thyroids that were obtained through thyroidectomy from 24 patients with goiter and 12 normal glands from adult patients without thyroid disease, which were used as the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  On average, 6 different thyroid areas were sampled and labeled by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal anticalcitonin antibody, utilizing the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex. C-cells were counted in fields measuring 1 square centimeter, and the mean number of cells per field was then calculated. Data were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the colloid goiter group, the number of C-cells ranged from 0 to 23 per field, while in normal controls they ranged from 20 to 148 per field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate a significant decrease of C-cell number in the colloid goiter group compared with control group, indicating that the hyperplastic process is restricted to follicular cells, to the detriment of C-cells, which probably cease to receive trophic stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Disciplines of Endocrinology, Internal Medicine and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine of the Tri ngulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Fabiana S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Tiveron
authors.forename: Vitorino M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Lilian M B
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Gilberto P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids; D006042:Goiter; D006043:Goiter, Endemic; D006801:Humans; D013959:Thyroid Diseases; D013961:Thyroid Gland
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids