ULTRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF THYROID IN A CASE OF HUMAN CONGENITAL GOITER WITH CRETINISM

  • 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 10  (2) , 155-165
Abstract
Transmission and scanning electron microscope studies in a case of congenital goiter associated with cretinism revealed the existence of 2 cell types: the 1st with rounded endoplasmic cisternae and normal lysosomes; the 2nd characterized by an abundance of lysosomes and/or lipofuscin granules. Intermediary aspects suggested that the 2nd cell type was the progeny of the 1st type. As colloid droplets and apical pseudopods engulfing colloid were nearly absent, and as non-butanol extractable 127I was elevated in the plasma, it is suggested that iodoprotein secretion occurred by a process different from colloid phagocytosis as observed after acute thyrotropin stimulation.