Preliminary evaluation of thyroid C cells in rats with chronic renal failure.

Numerous water-electrolyte and hormonal disturbances, including secondary hyperparathyroidism, occur in the course of chronic renal failure. It is assumed that chronic renal failure should affect the activity of C cells in the thyroid gland. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate immunohistochemically thyroid C cells in rats with experimental uremia. 30 days after nephrectomy, thyroid fragments were collected from experimental rats. Paraffin embedded sections were stained with H+E and by silver impregnation. Calcitonin (CT), synaptophysin (SY), somatostatin (ST), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were detected immunohistochemically in the C cells. A very distinct increase in C cell number in the thyroid and the weakening of majority of examined reactions were observed in rats with experimental uremia.