A fine structural study of the highly active thyroid follicular cell of the African basenji dog

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Abstract
The highly active thyroid gland of the basenji dog has been studied. The follicular cell of the basenji thyroid is unusual in that colloid droplets may be found in the apical cytoplasm of normal cells. Their appearance does not require administration of exogenous thyrotrophin. The colloid droplets appear to have been taken in by invagination of the apical plasma membrane forming a small bay at the cell‐colloid interface. Apparent fusion of adjacent plasma membranes subsequently eliminates the mouth of the bay, completing endocytosis of the droplet. Basenji follicular cells are also distinguished by a dense accumulation of two varieties of lysosomes, basal associations of lip d droplets and mitochondria with unusual cristae and specialized junctions between cells of adjacent follicles. It is suggested that these unique structural modifications reflect adaptations for the perpetually active state of the basenji thyroid.