ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Parafollicular Cells
;
Rat
;
Normalcalcemia
;
Vitamin D2
;
Electronmicroscopy
;
Histochemical fluorescence method
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Thyroid parafollicular cells of normocalcemic and vitamin D2-treated rats were investigated by electron microscopy and with the histochemical fluorescence technique of Hillarp and Falck. Administration of high doses of vitamin D2 caused hypercalcemia and an extensive degranulation of the parafollicular cells. The formation and storage of monoamines in granulated and degranulated parafollicular cells was investigated by fluorescence microscopy after injection of monoamine precursors (DOPA, 5-HTP), alone or in combination with Ro 4-4602, nialamide or reserpine. No fluorescence was observed in parafollicular cells of untreated rats. l-DOPA and l-5-HTP (but not the corresponding D-amino acids) were taken up by a process closely linked to the decarboxylation of the amino acids to the corresponding amines (dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine). Treatment with vitamin D2 did not seem to affect the formation of amines in the parafollicular cells or the formation and storage of amines in other cell systems investigated. The amine itself (dopamine) was not taken up by the parafollicular cells. In normocalcemic rats, the amine formed was retained in the cytoplasm of the parafollicular cells by a partially reserpine-resistant mechanism. The storage of amines is concluded to occur in association with the calcitonin-containing granules. In parafollicular cells of vitamin D2-treated rats, a certain amount of amine was bound in the cytoplasm in the absence of typical granules. As a considerable amount of calcitonin is known to remain in the thyroid of vitamin D2-treated rats, the present observations may indicate an association between the amine and the polypeptide hormone calcitonin, whether the latter is confined to typical granules or not.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00306979
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