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On the Parafollicular Cells in the Thyroid Gland of the Bovine Foetus

Om förekomsten av parafollikulära celler i sköldkörteln hos nötfoster och deras morfologi

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 12, pages 560–571 (1971)Cite this article

Summary

The thyroids of 117 bovine foetuses were studied by some histochemical and selective staining methods with respect to the occurrence of parafollicular cells. Furthermore, 7 foetuses were studied by electron microscopy. The length of the foetuses varied from 6 to 72 cm corresponding to an estimated age of about 2 to 9 months. Parafollicular cells were observed in the thyroids of all foetuses examined. The ultrastructure of the parafollicular cells in the foetuses differed very little from that described in adult animals. Histochemically, Luxol fast blue positive phospholipids and α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity could be observed in the cells. The Solcia-Sampietro method gave positive results in most of the foetuses examined. The reactions observed at light microscopic level were rather faint in the youngest foetuses. The functional aspects of the results are discussed.

Sammanfattning

Sköldkörtlarna från 117 nötfoster undersöktes med några histokemiska och selektiva färgningsmetoder med avseende på förekomsten av parafollikulära celler. Därutöver undersöktes sköldkörtelvävnad från 7 foster elektronmikroskopiskt. Fostrens längd varierade från 6 till 72 cm, motsvarande en beräknad ålder av 2 till 9 månader. Parafollikulära celler konstaterades i sköldkörtlarna hos alla undersökta foster. De fetala parafollikulära cellernas ultrastruktur skilj de sig mycket litet från den struktur som beskrivits hos fullvuxna djur. Histokemiskt konstaterades i cellerna Luxol fast blue positiva fosfolipider samt α-glyserofosfat dehydrogenas aktivitet. Solcia-Sampietro metoden gav positivt resultat i de flesta undersökta fostren. De ljusmikroskopiska reaktionernas intensitet var relativt svag hos de minsta fostren. De anförda resultatens funktionella betydelse diskuteras.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Embryology and the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland

    L.-A. Lindberg & S. Talanti

  2. Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Finland

    L.-A. Lindberg & S. Talanti

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  1. L.-A. Lindberg
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  2. S. Talanti
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Lindberg, LA., Talanti, S. On the Parafollicular Cells in the Thyroid Gland of the Bovine Foetus. Acta Vet Scand 12, 560–571 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547724

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547724

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147