Abstract
Summary
Mature female rats were injected with 400 μg/100 g b.w. of methima-zole/day for 20 and 30 days. In 20 days, the mean thyroid gland weight increased from 9.73 mg for the controls to 16.04 mg, an increase of 65% and after 30 days to 20.53 mg, an increase of 111%. To determine to what extent the increase in thyroid gland weight was due to cell multiplication and to an increase in cell size, the total DNA/gland and the DNA/mg DFFT was determined. After 20 days the DNA/gland increased 52% and after 30 days, 64%, whereas the DNA/mg DFFT remained constant in the 3 groups. It has been calculated that the increase in thyroid gland weight after 30 days of goitrogen treatment represents a 54% increase in cell growth (multiplication) and a 46% increase in cell size.
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