The effect of radiation on thyroid C cells

Abstract
To study the effects of radiation from 131I on thyroid C cells, newborn rats were given 0, 5 or 10 μCi 131I and studied at 3 monthly intervals over 2 years. Routine stains, calcitonin immunolocalization and quantitation were used to study follicular and C cells. Both radiation doses led to almost complete disappearance of C cells, with only scattered morphological abnormal surviving cells. After a year, some animals showed focal reappearance of C cells; these isolated clusters were interpreted as clones of cells, derived after a considerable lag period, from the very few surviving C cells which had not been sterilized. This focal regeneration was dosedependent. It is concluded that C cells are much more radiosensitive to radiation from 131I than follicular cells. These observations support the use of 131I therapy in the treatment of post-operative thyroid residues in patients with C cell hyperplasia, or microscopic intrathyroid deposits of medullary carcinoma.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: