MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL CHANGES OF ULTIMOBRANCHIAL FOLLICLES OF RAT THYROID IN COURSE OF POSTNATAL LIFE

  • 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (2) , 123-131
Abstract
Morphological and histochemical changes of ultimobranchial follicles of the thyroid were investigated in rats from newborn to 18 mo. of age. The 1st well-delimited ultimobranchial follicles, though with no lumen, were detected in the thyroid gland of 10 day old rats. At 30 days of age, follicles possessing regular lumina were present in the thyroid. With age the follicles gradually increased in volume assuming extreme dimensions in adult age. The follicles displayed varying shapes from simple cysts to bizarre forms. From the age of 50 days the cells of the follicular wall are separated from the cell debris contained in the lumen. The latter gave a PAS [periodic acid-Schiff] positive reaction. The cells of the ultimobranchial follicles did not exhibit argyrophilia and metachromasia, showing that they differ considerably from the C-cells likewise of ultimobranchial origin, known to give marked argyrophilic and metachromatic reactions.

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