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The routine demonstration of C cells in human and animal thyroid glands

Value of a Simple Silver Stain

  • Published:
Virchows Archiv B

Summary

The silver nitrate technique developed by Grimelius was slightly modified in order to obtain a reproducible and simple method for the staining of C cells in the thyroid gland. The reliability of this method was demonstrated by comparing its results with those of immunofluorescent, cytochemical and ultrastructural studies. This staining procedure gives good and permanent results even when applied to tissues first fixed several hours after death. Its use allows the routine evaluation of the number and distribution of C cells in human and animal tissues.

Zusammenfassung

Die von Grimelius entwickelte Silberimprägnation erwies sieh in leicht abgeänderter Form als reproduzierbare und einfache Darstellungsmethode für die C-Zellen der Schilddrüse. Die Zuverlässigkeit dieser Methode wurde mittels vergleichenden immunofluorescenzoptischen, cytochemischen und elektronenmikroskopischen Untersuchungen bewiesen. Die Silberimprägnation liefert gute Resultate auch an mehrere Stunden nach dem Tode fixiertem Gewebe. Zudem sind die Präparate haltbar. Diese Silberimprägnation erlaubt damit eine Routineauswertung von Anzahl und Verteilung der C-Zellen in menschlichem und tierischem Material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Pathologie de l’Université de Lausanne, CH-1011, Lausanne, Suisse

    P. De Grandi

  2. Institut de Pathologie. Hôpital cantonal, CH-1011, Lausanne, Schweiz

    P. De Grandi

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De Grandi, P. The routine demonstration of C cells in human and animal thyroid glands. Virchows Arch. Abt. B Zellpath. 6, 137–150 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02899119

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