Summary
The development of calcitonin cells (C-cells) was investigated in rat thyroid glands from birth to 120 days, using an immunoperoxidase technique and a point-counting method. The proportion of C-cells to follicular cells was 4.5% on the day of birth and increased progressively to 10.4% by 120 days. The highest density of C-cells was noted in the mid-region of the lobes along a longitudinal axis. The caudal and cephalic regions of the lobes contained smaller numbers of C-cells. The C-cells tended to be more numerous in the posterior aspects of the lobes. Although the numbers of C-cells in 120-day-old animals were markedly increased as compared to animals at the time of birth, the cell distributions within the glands were similar at all ages.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Conde E, Martín-Lacave I, González-Cámpora R, Galera-Davidson H (1991) Histometry of normal thyroid glands in neonatal and adult rats. Am J Anat 191:384–390
DeLellis RA, Nunnemacher G, Bitman WR, Gagel RF, Tahjian AH, Blount M, Wolfe HI (1979) C-cell hyperplasia and medullary thyroid carcinoma in the rat. An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis. Lab Invest 40:140–154
Dubois PM, Alizon E, David L (1979) Les cellules à calcitonine dans la thyroide du foetus humain. Etude par immunocytochimie. Ann Endocrinol 40:53–54
Kameda Y (1968) Parafollicular cells of the thyroid as studied with Davenport's silver impregnation. Arch Histol Jpn 30:83–94
Kameda Y (1971) The occurrence and distribution of the parafollicular cells in the thyroid, parathyroid IV and thymus IV in some mammals. Arch Histol Jpn 33:283–299
Kameda Y (1982) Somatostatin immunoreactive C-cells in thyroid glands from various mammalian species. Anat Rec 204:161–170
Kameda Y (1983) Distribution of C-cells in monkey thyroid glands as studied by the immunoperoxidase method using anti-calcitonin and anti-C-thyroglobulin antisera. Arch Histol Jpn 46:221–228
McMillan PJ, Hooker WM, Deftos LJ (1974) Distribution of calcitonin-containing cells in the human thyroid. Am J Anat 140:73–80
McMillan PJ, Heidbüchel U, Vollrath L (1985) Number and size of rat thyroid C-cells: No effect of pinealectomy. Anat Rec 212:167–171
Monsour PA, Kruger BJ, Barnes A (1985) Calcitonin cell population and distribution in the thyroid gland of the rat. J Morphol 186:271–278
Peng TC, Cooper CW, Petrusz P, Volpert EM (1975) Identification of C-cells in normal and goitrous rat thyroid tissues using antiserum to rat thyrocalcitonin and the immunoperoxidase bridge technique. Endocrinology 97:1537–1544
Pento JT (1978) Calcitonin distribution within pig, sheep and cow thyroid. Hormone Res 9:137–143
Petkó M (1978) Seasonal variations of rat thyroid C-cell population. Acta Biol Acad Sci Hung 29:367–373
Petkó M, Rigó G, Varga Z (1976) Quantitative changes of the C-cell population in the rat thyroid during postnatal ontogenesis. Cell Tissue Res 166:541–552
Roediger W (1973) A comparative study of the normal human neonatal and canine thyroid C-cells. J Anat 115:255–276
Srivastav AK, Swarup K (1982) Morphology and distribution of calcitonin cells in the house shrew, Suncus murinus. Arch Anat Microsc 4:207–212
Stux M, Thompson B, Isler H, Leblond CP (1961) The “light cells” of the thyroid gland in the rat. Endocrinology 68:292–308
Swarup K, Das VK (1978) Calcitonin cells and unusual follicle in four months old Wistar rats. Z Mikr Anat Forsch 2:212–221
Thompson B, Isler H, Sarkar SK (1962) Effect of hypophysectomy and growth hormone on the light cells of the thyroid gland. Endocrinology 70:786–795
Treilhou-Lahille F, Cressent M, Taboulet J, Moukhtar MS (1979) Immunohistochemical staining of mouse C-cells during postnatal histogenesis of the thyroid. Histochemistry 63:69–80
Wechbanjong N, McMillan PJ, Dalgleish AE (1979) Influence of development on the number of calcitonin-containing cells in the mouse thyroid. Am J Anat 154:477–484
Weibel ER (1979) Stereological methods, vol 1. Practical methods for biological morphometry. Academic Press, London, pp 101–108
Wolfe HJ, Voelkel EF, Tashjian AH (1974) Distribution of calcitonin-containing cells in the normal adult human thyroid gland: a correlation of morphology with peptide content. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 38:688–694
Wolfe HJ, DeLellis RA, Voelkel EF, Tashjian AH (1975) Distribution of calcitonin-containing cells in the normal neonatal human thyroid gland: A correlation of morphology with peptide content J Clin Endocrinol Metab 41:1076–1081
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martín-Lacave, I., Conde, E., Montero, C. et al. Quantitative changes in the frequency and distribution of the C-cell population in the rat thyroid gland with age. Cell Tissue Res. 270, 73–77 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381881
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381881