Abstract
Thyroid hyperplasia was induced in rats and mice by feeding a stock diet containing 0.25% thiouracil (TU) and involution was induced by discontinuing the TU and feeding a high iodine diet. DNA content and weights of thyroid glands of rats and mice changed in a roughly parallel manner during the development of hyperplasia and involution. After starting the feeding of thiouracil there was a latent period followed initially by a linear increase in DNA and weight. Involution began within a few days after change to the high iodine diet. Thyroid weight and DNA content decreased for 7–12 days before reaching plateaus several times control values. The results indicate that the hyperplastic gland contains 2 populations of cells, one of which is unstable and disappears from the gland rapidly after onset of involution. The other population has a long life similar to that of the cells of the normal thyroid gland and is responsible for the greater cell number in the involuted gland. (Endocrinology 86: 322, 1970)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have