title: Experimental autotransplantation and cryopreservation of the thyroid gland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the functionality of autotransplanted thyroid tissues immediately or after cryopreservation in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was completed with 12 rabbits randomized in 2 groups. Preoperative scintigraphies were performed for all subjects. The rabbits underwent total thyroidectomy. The first group underwent immediate thyroid autotransplantation. Thyroid tissues of the second group were cryopreserved and autoimplanted at the eighth postoperative week. The free triiodothyronine (fT3) and thyroxine (fT4) levels were monitored for 8 weeks. Postoperative scintigraphies were performed at the eigth week after autoimplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects in the first group reached euthyroid levels at the eighth week while none of the second group reached that level, but all showed continuous increase. Although implanted thyroid tissues of 5 of the 6 rabbits in the first group were demonstrated during the first scintigraphy, the number was only 1 in the second group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid autografts were found to be functional and thought to have a potential preventing postoperative hypothyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: İmdat
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Yüce
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Sorgun State Hospital, Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hacı
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okuducu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Çağlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Uzunkopru State Hospital, Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alperen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gündoğdu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ümmühan
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Abdülrezzak
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arlı
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital of Education and Research, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ercihan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Güney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones
keywords: animal experimentation; autologous; cryopreservation; hypothyroidism; thyroid gland; transplantation