Immunocytochemical study of parafollicular cells of the thyroid and ultimobranchial remnants of the European bison

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare parafollicular cells in the bison thyroid and its ultimobranchial remnants. The thyroid of 26 European bisons was fixed in Bouin's fluid, 5 microns thick paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Azan or silver Grimelius methods. For immunocytochemical analysis specific rabbit antisera were used against human calcitonin (CT), human calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), bovine (b) or rat (r) neuron-specific enolase (NSE), human synthetic somatostatin (ST), and porcine chromogranin. Strongly positive reactions in the majority of parafollicular cells were observed after application of antisera against CT, CGRP, bNSE and rNSE only. ST-immunopositive cells were found in small numbers. Immunopositive parafollicular cells were also present outside typical structures of the thyroid within persistent ultimobranchial remnants. In persistent ultimobranchial bodies, parafollicular cells were frequently observed in groups between ultimobranchial follicles in form of solid cell nests. Many of these cells did not react with any of the antisera used and showed features of immature cells. It is concluded that histomorphologic analysis and immunocytochemical examination reveals a heterogeneous population of parafollicular cells in the bison thyroid, and this heterogeneity was particularly clear in persistent ultimobranchial bodies.