Kameda Y, Ikeda K, Ikeda A
Anat Rec. 1981 Aug;200(4):461-70. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092000409.
C-cell complexes are special cell groups consisting of a mass of C-cells associated with other epithelial elements and cysts. They are remnants of ultimobranchial bodies retaining fetal characteristics. In the C-cell complexes there are follicular cells in various stages of differentiation, i.e., the cell clusters not yet organized into follicles, primordial follicles with small lumens and comparatively enlarged follicles storing plentiful amounts of colloid. They have a morphology similar to follicular cells of fetal thyroid glands and react to antiserum to 19S thyroglobulin. In order to determine whether or not the follicles in these complexes have the ability to incorporate radioiodine, autoradiography after a single injection of 125I was combined with immunoperoxidase staining using specific anti-calcitonin, anti-C-thyroglobulin, and anti-19S thyroglobulin antisera. The 19S-positive cells not yet organized into follicles did not take up radioiodine. Primordial follicles showed a heavy accumulation of silver grains over their follicular lumens storing new 19S thyroglobulin as colloid. Comparatively enlarged follicles revealed a strong autoradiographic reaction and their labeling patterns were identical with those of typical thyroid follicles. These results confirm that the follicles in C-cell complexes, as well as thyroid follicles, can incorporate radioiodine and are related to thyroid hormone synthesis. That is, functional thyroid follicles can arise from the ultimobranchial bodies.
C细胞复合体是由一团与其他上皮成分及囊肿相关的C细胞组成的特殊细胞群。它们是保留胎儿特征的鳃后体残余物。在C细胞复合体中存在处于不同分化阶段的滤泡细胞，即尚未组织成滤泡的细胞簇、具有小腔的原始滤泡以及储存大量胶体的相对增大的滤泡。它们的形态与胎儿甲状腺的滤泡细胞相似，并对19S甲状腺球蛋白抗血清产生反应。为了确定这些复合体中的滤泡是否具有摄取放射性碘的能力，单次注射125I后的放射自显影与使用特异性抗降钙素、抗C甲状腺球蛋白和抗19S甲状腺球蛋白抗血清的免疫过氧化物酶染色相结合。尚未组织成滤泡的19S阳性细胞不摄取放射性碘。原始滤泡在储存新的19S甲状腺球蛋白作为胶体的滤泡腔内显示出大量银粒积累。相对增大的滤泡显示出强烈的放射自显影反应，其标记模式与典型甲状腺滤泡相同。这些结果证实，C细胞复合体中的滤泡以及甲状腺滤泡能够摄取放射性碘，并且与甲状腺激素合成有关。也就是说，功能性甲状腺滤泡可起源于鳃后体。
