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Biomedical subjects

J Velický

Publications and source records attributed to J Velický.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Long-term action of potassium bromide on the rat thyroid gland.

Male rats fed by a standard diet with determined of bromine and iodine content were exposed to a 133-day oral administration of KBr (100, 200, 400 mg Br-/l drinking water). Their thyroid glands showed increased growth of the epithelial cells reflected by a microfollicular rearrangement of the parenchyma due to proliferation of very small follicles with a low or zero content of colloid. Morphometric analysis of thyroids of Br(-)-exposed animals revealed a significant decrease in the volume of intrafollicular colloid and marked increase in the number of the smallest follicles (areas up to 100 and 100-300 micron 2). In addition, the nuclei of thyrocytes showed an increased number of mitoses. The vascularization was increased as well. In the blood plasma of the Br(-)-exposed animals the T4 concentration was significantly decreased in dependence on the bromine concentrations. Thyroglobulin immunoreactivity in the colloid of Br(-)-exposed animals decreased after administration of 400 mg Br-/l drinking water. Increasing concentrations of Br- in the drinking water caused an increased bromine concentration in the thyroid, a decreased iodine content and a decreased I/Br molar ratio. The changes in the rat thyroid caused by long-term administration of 100 mg Br-/l were similar to hyperplastic parenchymal goitre and were comparable to those induced in previous experiments by the same bromine concentration administered over a 16- and 66-day period respectively.

Administration, Oral↗

Expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the rat thyroid gland after exposure to bromide.

Analysis of expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was used to determine the presumed hyperplastic character of morphological changes in the rat thyroid evoked by bromide administration. Male rats fed by a standard diet with determined iodine and bromine content were given potassium bromide. Control animals received no bromide. Experimental animals were given 10, 50 or 100 mg Br- per 11 drinking water for 16 and 66 days, or 100, 200, 400 mg Br-/l drinking water for 133 days. The thyroids of treated animals showed activation of growth of the epithelial follicular component as well as diffuse and focal microfollicular rearrangement of the parenchyma with higher follicular cells accompanied by a decrease of the amount of colloid even at low bromine concentrations (10-100 mg Br-/l drinking water). Using the PCNA-LI index (PCNA-positive nuclei.100/total number of follicular cell nuclei in the section), immunohistochemical analysis of PCNA in the nuclei of the follicular cells was carried out in parrafin sections. The index was significantly higher in bromide exposed animals (P < 0.01) and correlated well with the histological changes, with bromide concentration and with a increased mitotic activity of the follicular cells. PCNA analysis showed that morphological changes resembling a parenchymatic goitre reflect a microfollicular rearrangement of the thyroid of rats exposed to bromide and have the character of hyperplasia owing to the increased mitotic activity of the follicular epithelium.

Animals↗

Potassium bromide and the thyroid gland of the rat: morphology and immunohistochemistry, RIA and INAA analysis.

The increasing environmental concentration of bromine has resulted in attempts to obtain information on its possibly deleterious effect on humans, particularly on a major target organ of this halogen i.e. the thyroid gland. In order to establish the morphological and functional effects of bromine on the thyroid, we have performed experiments on male rats which, in addition to a standard diet with an estimated iodine/bromine content, were fed for periods of 16 and 66 days with the small quantities of bromide expected to be encountered in the environment (10, 50 and 100 mg of Br-/l in drinking water). This treatment induced growth of the follicular epithelial component and microfollicular tissue rearrangement, a reduction of intrafollicular colloid, an increase in the height of the follicular cells and the number of mitoses, and it enhanced vascularization. Image analysis revealed a significant reduction in the volume of colloid, despite the accompanying rise in the number of minute follicles. The immunohistochemical positivity of the thyroglobulin fell in the microfollicular colloid of the exposed animals, although this was affected to a lesser extent in the larger follicles. The concentration of bromine in the thyroid increased with the amount of bromine intake, while at the same time the molar ratio of iodine/bromine decreased. The plasma level of T4 was lowered after both 16 and 66 days of treatment, but the T3 level only after 66 days treatment. The level of TSH did not exhibit any significant change. The observed changes, which have a parenchymatous goitre-like character, may have a direct relevance for human medicine, since the concentrations of bromide chosen in these experiments are readily encountered in the environment.

Animals↗

Experimental thyroiditis in guinea pigs and rabbits. Immunization with thyroglobulin and bovine thyroid gland suspension.

Morphological changes in the thyroid glands of the guinea pigs with autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) experimentally induced by thyroglobulin (TGL) or immunization by the suspension of thyroid gland cells with CFA manifested mainly by atrophy and alterations of follicular cells, fibrotic tissue changes, formation of inflammatory lymphoplasmocytic infiltrations, multiplication of C-cells and by the increase in the proportion of lymphocytes with activated nucleoli in the tissue. The antigenic effects of TGL differed from those of the cell suspension; the effects of TGL participated especially in the formation of the infiltrates, the effects of cell suspension participated in the diapedesis of mononuclears and in the multiplication of C-cells. The findings correspond to the principal findings in human autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis. In an electron microscope, strongly dilated cisterns of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and multiplied mitochondria in the cytoplasm of altered follicular cells were found. The wall of the follicles exhibited fully intact or altered C-cells. The latter had a large number of granules in cytoplasm with an unusually clear medullary substance. In the rabbit thyroid glands no morphological changes were observed following the immunization with both antigens. TGL antibodies examined immunohistochemically in the sera were present in all the sera of guinea pigs immunized with TGL and CFA. The antibodies determined by dot immunodetection were present in the sera of all guinea pigs immunized with TGL+CFA, the titres reached the level of 1:81 to 1:729; the highest titres were observed in the guinea pigs following the immunization by dose of 7.7 mg/kg after 12 weeks of immunization.

Animals↗

Morphological changes in the human thyroid gland cultivated in continual flow system.

In the present pilot study, the human thyroid gland tissue was cultivated under continuous culture conditions in the culture chambers of the ACUSYST-S system to determine morphological changes as well as the secretion of thyreoglobulin (Tgl) and thyroid hormones. After 24 hours of cultivation the follicular structure of the tissue was preserved in peripheral parts only, and there were regressive changes in the epithelium center. After 72 hours the regressive changes appeared in isolated follicles only; the size of the follicles increased, the height of the follicular epithelium decreased and there were macrophages present with phagocytized cell debris. After 144 hours disintegration of epithelia took place in the centre, while at the periphery the original follicles survived and very tiny new follicles formed, consisting of only 6 to 8 cells each and surrounding in section the homogeneous colloid. The parenchyma picture suggests a possibility of functional regeneration as an expression of adaptation to the conditions newly arisen during cultivation in a culture chamber. There was no significant influencing of the thyroid hormone secretion during cultivation. On the other hand, the Tgl secretion decreased throughout cultivation.

Culture Media↗

Prenatal development of the cat thyroid: immunohistochemical demonstration of calcitonin in the "C" cells.

The presence of calcitonin in the cat thyroid was studied immunohistochemically in a series of gland development. The first positive cells are to be found on the 38th day of gestation, i.e. 1-2 days after level nine of ontogenetic development has been reached. The cytoplasm of these cells form only a narrow border round the nucleus. With advancing development the number of calcitonin-positive cells rises, the cytoplasm becomes intensely positive and its amount increases. From approximately the 50th day of prenatal development, the initially diffusely scattered, solitary calcitonin-positive cells are gradually replaced by groups of cells, which begin to occupy a characteristic position in relation to the follicular epithelium. The largest quantity of calcitonin-positive cells is found in foetuses about to be born. In non-pregnant adult cats, the incidence of immunohistochemically calcitonin-reactive cells is more sporadic and their distribution in the lobes of the thyroid is uneven.

Animals↗

The carotid body of the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.). An electron microscopy study.

In the pheasant, the carotid body lies laterally to the common carotid artery, is partly surrounded by parathyroid tissue and is immediately adjacent to the ultimobranchial body. In some cases these tissues intermingle. The cellular component of the carotid body consists primarily of granular endocrine cells, which are arranged in islands and lie in immediate proximity to wide capillaries and nerve fibres. A quantitative evaluation of granule size frequencies in these main cells, which we divided into three types, showed, inter alia, that the types represented three stages of cell differentiation, type III being the most mature cells. Only this last, i.e. mature, type can be used for differentiation from the granular cells of the ultimobranchial body of the same species, from which they differ. In addition, the main carotid body cells are typically surrounded by sustentacular cells. Numerous contacts with the terminal parts of axons were found on the main cells.

Animals↗

Fine structure of the ultimobranchial body of the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.).

The pheasant's ultimobranchial body is characterized by the presence, in the connective tissue stroma, of epithelial cells between which two types of granulated cells comprising the main part of the glandular portion of the body are formed. Type I is characterized chiefly by the presence of nonrounded electron-dense secretory granules measuring 65-240 nm in the cytoplasm and by a very well-developed Golgi apparatus. The cytoplasm of type II cells also contains dark secretory granules, but somewhat smaller (50-150 nm). This type is very frequently in close contact with specific and often branching tubular structures from whose cells microvilli project into the lumen. The dark cytoplasm of the cells lining these structures contains a relatively large number of mitochondria and dense bodies, but no secretory granules.

Animals↗

Light and electron microscopy observations in the thyroid gland of the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.).

In the summer, the pheasant thyroid presents as a relatively quiescent organ with reduced secretory activity; the follicular epithelium is very low and mostly of the pavement type, while the follicles are unwontedly large and contain an increased amount of colloid. The follicular cell cytoplasm contains numerous characteristic spherical vacuolar structures. In the winter, however, the thyroid displays remarkable reconstruction and raised activity of the follicular cells, which are much higher and columnar; the small follicles contain less colloid. Peculiar rod-like or fusiform structures, some measuring up to 6,5 microgram, were observed in the cytoplasm of the follicular cells of both hen and cock pheasants in November and March. At the beginning of the winter (November), specific dark cells with pycnotic nuclei, evidently in process of degeneration, appeared in the follicular epithelium. In March, specific granulated cells (probably parafollicular cells) were found sporadically in the immediate vicinity of the wall of subcapsular follicles in cock pheasant.

Animals↗