Summary
Changes in thyroid structure induced by a decrease in TSH or iodide-dependent stimulation were quantified by stereological analysis of light micrographs. Studies were carried out on intact (R5) and hypophysectomized (R 5H) rats receiving 5 μg iodide, and on intact rats (R5O) receiving 50 μg iodide daily.
For R 5H- and R5O-thyroids, the mean parameters of the epithelial cells, height, volume and lateral membrane area, were smaller than those of R 5-thyroids. An inverse shift was observed for the apical membrane area, whereas the peripheral membrane area was unchanged. The number of epithelial cells was similar in each of the three groups; however, the number of follicles was greater in R 5-thyroids, suggesting that follicular fusion occurs in R 5O- and R 5H-thyroids. This was confirmed by direct observation.
The present results demonstrate that in adult rats a lack of TSH or an increased iodide diet (insufficient to produce a physiopathological state) induce follicle fusion probably by means of cellular reorganization. This increase in follicle size could be involved in the regulation of thyroid iodine turnover.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderssen R, Jakeman A (1974) Abel type integral equations in stereology. II computational methods of solution and the random spheres approximation 105:135–153
Bastiani P, Simon C (1977) Long term turnover of thyroid iodine in the rat as studied by the isotopic equilibrium method. Acta Endocrinol 85:357–363
Cau P, Michel-Bechet M, Fayet G (1976) Morphogenesis of thyroid follicles in vitro. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 52:3–66
Cruz Orive L (1976) Particle size shape distributions: the general spheroid problem I mathematical model. J Microsc 107:235–253
Culp L (1978) Biochemical determinants of cell adhesion. In: Bronner F, Kleinzeller A (eds) Current topics in membranes and transport, Vol 11, Cell surface glycoproteins: structure, biosynthesis and biological functions. p 327–396
Denef J, Cordier A, Mesquita M, Haumont S (1979) The influence of fixation procedure, embedding medium and section thickness on morphometric data in thyroid gland. Histochem 63:163–171
Ekholm R (1964) Thyroid gland. In: Kurtz S (ed) Electron microscopic anatomy. Academic Press, London, 221–237
Ericson L, Engstrom G (1978) Quantitative electron microscopic studies on exocytosis and endocytosis in the thyroid follicle cell. Endocrinol 103:883–892
Fayet G, Stahl A, Lissitzky S (1971) Microcinématographie du comportement d'une population de cellules thyroïdiennes fraîchement isolées en présence d'hormone thyreotrope. (Agrégation, formation et croissance des follicules, fusion folliculaire, desagrégation, perte de l'architecture et formation d'une monocouche stricte). Film unpublished
Fujita H (1975) Fine structure of the thyroid gland. Int Rev Cytol 40:197–280
Herzog V, Miller F (1979) Membrane retrieval in epithelial cells of isolated thyroid follicles. Eur J Cell Biol 19:203–215
Hilfer S (1964) Follicle formation in the embryonic chick thyroid. I: Early morphogenesis. J Morphol 115:135–152
Loewenstein J, Wollman S (1973) Kinetics of isotopic equilibration of iodine in individual rat thyroid follicles. Endocrinol 92:894–911
Miles R, Davy P (1976) Precise and general conditions for the validity of a comprehensive set of stereological fundamental formulae. J Microsc 107:211–226
Miles R, Davy P (1977) On the choice of quadrats in stereology. J Microsc 110:27–44
Nadler N (1954) The rate of iodine metabolism by the thyroid follicle as a function of its size. Endocrinol 54:154–172
Nadler N (1974) Anatomical features. In: Greer R, Astwood E (eds) Endocrinology, Vol 3, Thyroid. The William and Wilkins Comp, Baltimore, p 39–54
Pantic V (1974) The cytophysiology of thyroid cells. Int Rev Cytol 38:153–243
Penel C, Simon C (1976) A stochastic approach to the problem of sampling and slicing in histology. Application to the determination of the number and size distribution of spherical structures. J Miscrosc Biol Cell 26:107–113
Penel C, Rognoni J, Durieu D, Simon C (1981) Stereological analysis of the thyroid follicle structure. Experientia 37:1010–1012
Rand R (1981) Interacting phospholipid bilayers: measured forces and induced structural changes. Ann Rev Biophy Bioengn 10:277–314
Rogers T (1977) Local models of cell aggregation kinetics. Bull Math Biol 39:23–42
Saddok C, Gafni M, Gross J (1978) Effect of iodide on the adenyl cyclase system of the mouse thyroid in vivo. Acta Endocrinol 88:517–527
Studer H, Forster R, Conti A, Kohler H, Haeberli A, Engler H (1978) Transformation of normal follicles into thyrotropin refractory “cold” follicles in the aging mouse thyroid gland. Endocrinol 102:1576–1586
Weibel E (1979) Stereological methods, Vol 1, Practical methods for biological morphometry. Academic Press, London
Williams R (1957) Observations on the production of alterations in the shape of living thyroid follicles. Anat Rec 127:37–49
Wollman S (1980) Structure of the thyroid gland. In: De Wisscher (ed) The thyroid gland. Raven Press, New York, p 1–19
Wollman S, Neve P (1971) Ultimobranchial follicles in the thyroid glands of rats and mice. Rec Prog Horm Res 27:213–234
Wollman S, Reed F (1959) Transport of radioiodide between thyroid gland and blood in mice and rats. Am J Physiol 196:113–120
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Penel, C., Bastiani, P. & Rognoni, J.B. Correlation between thyroid-follicle fusion and structural modifications of the epithelial cells. Cell Tissue Res. 225, 143–153 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216224
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216224