Appearance of Amine-Containing Mast Cells in the Mouse Thyroid Induced by the Human Long-Acting Thyroid Stimulator (LATS)

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Abstract
The occurrence of mast cells in the mouse thyroid was examined by light and fluorescence microscopy after treatment of normal animals with human blood plasma, having high activity of the long—acting thyroid stimulator (LATS). Control animals were given LATS—negative human plasma, or a combination of LATS—positive human plasma and rabbit antibodies against human immunoglobulin G (anti—IgG). No, or very few, 5- HT- and histamine—storing mast cells were seen in thyroids of normal mice, while such cells were frequently seen in various extrathyroidal tissues. The same was true in animals treated twice daily for 1 week with LATS—negative plasma, or with LATS—positive plasma plus anti—IgG. In contrast, twice—daily injections for 1 week of strongly LATS—positive plasma promoted the appearance of numerous 5-HT- and histamine—containing mast cells within the thyroid. No apparent change was recorded in the number of extrathyroidal mast cells, in any of the experiments. As a similar intrathyroidal appearance of 5-HT— and histamine—containing mast cells occurs upon stimulation with TSH, the following suggestions are made: 1) Like follicle cells, the thyroid mast cells possess "receptors" for both TSH and LATS. 2) The target for TSH and LATS is not only the follicle cell but rather the thyroid gland as a whole. 3) Thyroid mast cells are integrated in thyroid function not only under "normal" conditions but they may also be involved in the development and/or maintenance of thyrotoxicosis. (Endocrinology92: 1362, 1973)

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