This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Money, W. L. Articles by Rawson, R. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Money, W. L. Articles by Rawson, R. W.

The Growth and Function of Thiouracil-Induced Thyroid Tumors Transplanted into Non-inbred Rats Thymectomized at Birth¹

( The Division of Clinical Investigation, The Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York)

Thyroid tumors, produced in Charles River rats maintained for prolonged periods on thiouracil, have been successfully transplanted into neonatally thymectomized hosts. Initial growth of the transplant was slow and required approximately a year to reach 5–20 gm in weight. Subtransplantation at that time, into either thymectomized or intact animals, resulted in rapid growth of the transplant within 3 months.

Histologically, the tumors were variable but unmistakably thyroid in origin. Autoradiographic analysis revealed the location of radioiodine primarily in folliculr types of tissue. Functionally, the tumors had the capacity to concentrate radioiodine and produce monoiodotyrosine, diiodotyrosine, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine. Chromatographic separation of the labeled fractions showed a significant increase in monoiodotyrosine and a decrease in diiodotyrosine and the iodothyronines, when compared with the host's thyroid gland.

¹ Supported in part by grants T-71 and T-81 from the American Cancer Society and DRG-615 from the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund.

Received 8/ 3/64.