Note on rhinoceros salivary glands

Limited observations are submitted upon the anatomy of the hitherto undescribed salivary gland formations in the rhinoceros genera Rhinoceros, Diceros and Ceratotherium.     

Gangliosides of human thyroid gland

The ganglioside composition of adult human thyroid gland was examined in autopsy material obtained from patients who died of circulatory diseases but who showed no signs of thyroid disorders. The concentrations of phospholipids, cholesterol and gangliosides (lipid-bound sialic acid) in the whole glands were 5.2, 4.3 and 0.12 mmol/kg fresh tissue weight and, in dissected follicular material, 7.0, 3.4 and 0.24 mmol/kg tissue, respectively. The molar ratio of phospholipids/cholesterol/gangliosides in the follicular material was 1.00:0.49:0.034. Twelve molecular species of gangliosides were isolated and identified. Gangliosides GM3 and GD3 were most abundant, but GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and 3'-LM1 were also present in quantities greater than 5% of the total gangliosides. N-Acetylneuraminic acid and an alkali labile sialic acid, probably N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid, were found to occur in human thyroid.     

Amylase in the thyroid gland

Summary Amylase activity detected in thyroid extracts was significantly higher than that of normal sera. A starch film technique revealed the existence of amylase activity in the follicular lumen and on the follicular epithelia. By electrophoretic analysis of thyroid extracts, 4 bands of amylase activity were observed, one being of the same mobility as parotid and the other 3 more anodic. Amylase extracted from the thyroid appeared in the same position as pancreatic or parotid amylase on Sephadex G75 gel filtration. The possibility is discussed that the thyroid may synthesize amylase of salivary type, which is secreted from the follicular epithelia into the follicular lumen, where it may be transformed into anionic forms.     

Studies on quantitative morphology. XII. Distribution of thyroid gland compartments in an activated rabbit thyroid gland

A series of longitudinally cut step sections with a distance of 50 microns of a rabbit thyroid gland was measured by point counting for the relative tissue elements colloid, epithelium, and interstitium. Furthermore, the ratio epithelium:colloid was computed, which was somewhat high, indicating an activated stage. Higher colloid data were found in the outer regions and insignificantly lower epithelium values. Neither the volume data nor the distribution of the structure elements show any difference between both of the lobes. The degree of heterogeneity was comparably low, but only about 30% of all data for the relative colloid percentages or for the ratios are enclosed in a range of +/- 5% in relation to the most accurate value from all hits all over the gland, and about 20% of the ratio data are crossing the +/- 20% borderlines. It was calculated that measuring of not more than 5 sections with approximately equal distances with a very few 10(3) hits yields values of an acceptable accuracy for all parameters and this with a reasonable time expense.     

Stress and the thyroid gland

The review highlights the effects of acute and chronic stress on thyroid gland metabolism. Special attention is paid to the influence of stress and the direct effects of glucocorticoids on the thyroid status, the activities of thyrocytes, iodine uptake, its oxidation and organification as well as peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones (deposition and transport of thyroid hormones, deiodinase activities in different tissues). The role of stress in the development of thyroid pathology is analyzed and characteristic features of thyroid function alterations during impaired functioning of the pituitary-adrenal system are established. Taking into consideration serious consequences of thyroid deficiency for the body, even in subclinical thyroid insufficiency, the mechanisms of the stress-induced impairments in thyroid functions are of interest for further studies.     

Amylase in the thyroid gland

Amylase activity detected in thyroid extracts was significantly higher than that of normal sera. A starch film technique revealed the existence of amylase activity in the follicular lumen and on the follicular epithelia. By electrophoretic analysis of thyroid extracts, 4 bands of amylase activity were observed, one being of the same mobility as parotid and the other 3 more anodic. Amylase extracted from the thyroid appeared in the same position as pancreatic or parotid amylase on Sephadex G75 gel filtration. The possibility is discussed that the thyroid may synthesize amylase of salivary type, which is secreted from the follicular epithelia into the follicular lumen, where it may be transformed into anionic forms.     

Intravascular lymphoma and thyroid gland

Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is a rare disease characterized by the proliferation of neoplastic cells in the small blood vessels that frequently goes undiagnosed until the time of autopsy. The neoplastic cells are usually of B-cell origin. The clinical course was examined to determine factors that would facilitate antemortem diagnosis. IVL is observed with clinical, histopathological and immunohystochemical methods. This is a unique case because the thyroid gland is a rare place for IVL. Accent is given on immunohystochemical methods and tissue biopsy in the differential diagnosis of IVL when nervous system and thyroid gland dysfunction occur This report indicates that micro-ecosystem of multinodular goitrous might influence the expression of chemokines and/or adhesion moleculs on endothelial and lymphoma cells, leading to heavy infiltration of thyroid gland. Concurrently, that may guide the physician to tissue biopsy facilitating antemortem diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy.