Nonresponsiveness of the thyroid gland to goitrogen in the early neonatal period in the rat: light- and electron-microscopic observations.

The thyroid response of fetal and neonatal rats to propylthiouracil (PTU) as a goitrogen was studied with observation of the thyroid glands by light and electron microscopy. On day 19 of gestation and on days 1, 3, 5 and 8 after birth, fetal and neonatal rats were given a subcutaneous injection of PTU and were autopsied 2 days later. PTU induced conspicuous goiters in fetal rats but did not in neonatal rats aged up to day 5 after birth. Beyond that age, PTU again induced goiters. Histologically, the follicular cell height in goitrous thyroid glands was significantly increased. Ultrastructurally, follicular cells in goitrous thyroid glands often had colloid droplets and lysosomes. It seems that nonresponsiveness of the thyroid glands in early neonatal rats to goitrogen is due to a temporary decline of the pituitary activity of thyrotropin secretion. About 5 days or more after birth, the pituitary-thyroid system begins to operate again in response to goitrogen.