title: A comparison of cultured rat FRTL-5 and porcine thyroid cells for predicting the thyroid toxicity of xenobiotics.
abstract: Two commonly used cell culture systems are currently available for testing the effects of xenobiotics on thyroid cell function and growth. These are the rat FRTL-5 thyroid cell line and the primary, cultured porcine thyrocyte. Both systems have inherent advantages and disadvantages. The FRTL-5 line has proved successful for testing growth stimulators, directly acting cytotoxic agents, and compounds directly affecting membrane transport processes (e.g. perchlorate anion: iodide transporter, ouabain: Na(+)K(+)-ATPase, amiloride: Na(+)-H(+) antiporter). These cells can be produced in large quantities in monolayers and permit the necessary interlaboratory standardization procedures. However, these cells have a limited ability to iodinate thyroglobulin and synthesize thyroid hormones and thus, for testing for direct inhibitors of the peroxidases (e.g. sulphonylurea-like antithyroid agents), cultured porcine cells can be used. These cells can be 'manipulated' in culture to form 'pseudo-follicular' structures under the correct conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, Hatfield Polytechnic, Hatfield, Herts., UK.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Atterwill
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Fowler