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Induction of Neoplasms in Thyroid Glands of Rats by Subtotal Thyroidectomy and by the Injection of One Microcurie of I^131*

Robert C. Goldberg, S. Lindsay, C. W. Nichols, Jr. and I. L. Chaikoff

( Departments of Physiology and Pathology, University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco, California)

Female Long-Evans rats were subjected to: (a) subtotal thyroidectomy, (b) subtotal thyroidectomy plus injection of 1 µc. of I¹³¹, (c) subtotal thyroidectomy plus injection of 1 µc. of I¹³¹ plus feeding of a diet containing desiccated thyroid, (d) subtotal thyroidectomy plus feeding of a diet containing desiccated thyroid, (e) injection of 1 µc. of I¹³¹, (f) feeding of a diet containing desiccated thyroid, and (g) injection of 1 µc. of I¹³¹ plus feeding of a diet containing desiccated thyroid.

Single and multiple adenomas were found in rats subjected to subtotal thyroidectomy and in those subtotally thyroidectomized and given injections of 1 µc. of I¹³¹. In rats subjected to these same treatments but, in addition, fed the thyroid-containing diet, significantly fewer adenomas were encountered.

Four papillary carcinomas and one follicular carcinoma were found in rats subjected to subtotal thyroidectomy and/or given injections of 1 µc. I¹³¹. No carcinoma was observed in control rats. Two papillary carcinomas were found in glands following subtotal thyroidectomy alone, a finding suggesting that thyrotropic hormone stimulation may cause the development of both benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms. One papillary and one follicular carcinoma developed in the intact thyroid glands of rats that received only 1 µc. of I¹³¹. These malignant neoplasms were possibly induced solely by the I¹³¹ irradiation. One papillary carcinoma developed in a rat that had been subjected to subtotal thyroidectomy, given an injection of 1 µc. of I¹³¹, and fed the desiccated thyroid-containing diet. This neoplasm appeared to be the result of either prolonged thyrotropic hormone stimulation or I¹³¹ irradiation.

^* This work was supported by a contract from the United States Atomic Energy Commission.

Department of Medicine, Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Oakland.

Received 6/17/63.

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