Induction of thyroiditis in guinea-pigs by intravenous injection of rabbit anti-guinea-pig thyroglobulin serum. I. Light microscopic study.

  • 1 December 1969
    • journal article
    • Vol. 17  (6) , 847-61
Abstract
An inflammatory reaction in the thyroid of guinea-pigs, induced by intravenous injection of rabbit anti-guinea-pig thyroglobulin serum, has been studied at time intervals ranging from ¼ hour to 20 days after injection. Specific staining methods for eosinophils have been used to demonstrate that the inflammatory infiltrate mainly consisted of eosinophil granulocytes, but that neutrophil granulocytes were also present at the earliest time intervals. PAS-staining revealed that the granulocytes contained rounded droplets of material with a PAS-reactivity comparable to that of the colloid. This was most clearly seen 12 and 24 hours after injection. The possibility that this material represents phagocytosed thyroglobulin perhaps in an antigen—antibody complex has been suggested. The number of mast cells was counted and degranulation, which was apparently most extensive 12 hours before maximum granulocyte infiltration, was observed. Possible mechanisms involved in eosinotaxis and uptake of antigen—antibody complexes in the granulocytes have been discussed.