Histological studies of atrazine toxicity on the thyroid gland in rats.

Little is known about the toxic activity of the atrazine (a herbicide, commonly used in agricultural production) on the thyroid gland. In this study the compound was administered orally in female albino rats at sublethal exposure equivalent to 0.2 LD50 doses for 6 and 12 days.

The epitheliomeral concept of the thyroid gland's structural organization.

Background: The permanent increase in the number of cases of different forms of thyroid pathology requires a deeper study of the thyroid structure and its morphogenetic processes.

Methods: The thyroid glands of Wistar rats were used in a composite study that involved standard light microscopy, semithin sections, silver staining, immunohistochemistry, morphometry, three-dimensional analysis, and computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction.

Results: The absolute majority of follicles have from one to seven interfollicular contacts (C) with other neighbouring follicles.