Quantitative changes in the frequency and distribution of the C-cell population in the rat thyroid gland with age.

The development of calcitonin cells (C-cells) was investigated in rat thyroid glands from birth to 120 days, using an immunoperoxidase technique and a point-counting method. The proportion of C-cells to follicular cells was 4.5% on the day of birth and increased progressively to 10.4% by 120 days. The highest density of C-cells was noted in the mid-region of the lobes along a longitudinal axis. The caudal and cephalic regions of the lobes contained smaller numbers of C-cells. The C-cells tended to be more numerous in the posterior aspects of the lobes. Although the numbers of C-cells in 120-day-old animal were markedly increased as compared to animals at the time of birth, the cell distributions within the glands were similar at all ages.