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Ultrastructure of the Thyroid Gland in Goitered Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)¹

Department of Zoology and Microbiology, College of Biological Science, University of Gueiph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

Thyroid tissues in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) goiters showed marked regional variation in structure and ultrastructure. For the most part the follicies were small, were composed of tall epithelial cells, and contained little or no colloid material. The follicie epithelial cells were essentially similar in fine structure to hyperactive thyroids in mammals and one type of follicle in congenital goiters in humans. A second type of follicle, present in human goiters, was not found in coho salmon. The follicle cells in coho salmon contained dense bodies similar to lysosomes in other species, together with larger organelles which could be colloid droplets. There was also an extensive system of dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and large areas of Golgi membranes. A marked feature was the presence of homogeneous electron dense material in the intercellular spaces between adjacent follicle cells.

¹ The work was supported by grants from the National Research Council of Canada. Environment Canada, and the National Cancer Institute of Canada.

² Research Scholar, National Cancer Institute of Canada.

Received 7/25/77. Accepted 10/17/77.