Spontaneous thyroiditis in thymectomized and irradiated Wistar rats.

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  • 1 October 1973
    • journal article
    • Vol. 15  (2) , 225-36
Abstract
Thyroiditis and autoantibodies to thyroglobulin were found to develop spontaneously in 60% of randomly bred Wistar rats subjected to thymectomy and whole body irradiation after weaning. Antinuclear antibodies were found in approximately 10% of these animals. Thyroiditis was seen in rats which were whole body irradiated without thymectomy but at a much lower incidence (22%). Control rats given irradiation to the thyroid region alone showed no such effects. The histology of the thyroid gland was similar to that seen in Hashimoto thyroiditis in man.