[Immunohistochemical studies on the thyroid C-cells in primary hyperparathyroidism]

This study was conducted in order to establish whether C cells, which are responsible for secretion of calcitonin within the thyroid gland, change either in volume or morphology under conditions of chronic hypercalcemia in primary hyperparathyroidism. Out of 106 primary hyperparathyroid patients undergoing surgery, in 11 cases the thyroids were excised and examined for changes in the C cell. As a control group we used thyroids removed in another 14 cases undergoing thyroidectomy or laryngectomy. Calcitonin in the C cell was observed by optical microscope after immuno staining using the indirect peroxidase-labeled antibody technique. C cells are not evenly distributed within the thyroid. However, there is excellent positive correlation (p less than 0.001) between the C-cell index, which is the average of two tissue samples excised from the area at the border between the upper 1/3 and middle 1/3 of the thyroid lobe (the area where most C cells are found), and the total number of C cells. The C-cell index can thus be used as an indicator of the total number of C cells in the thyroid. The number of C cells decreased (p less than 0.01) as the level of calcium in serum increased. In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, this decrease in C cells was significantly greater (p less than 0.025) than in the controls. Focal C cell hyperplasia and diffuse C cell hyperplasia were present in both the control group and primary hyperparathyroid group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups as to the frequency of occurrence. For both these conditions the rate of occurrence was considered within normal ranges for C cell morphology. We concluded that the decrease in C-cell count in primary hyperparathyroidism patients with chronic hypercalcemia is due to consumption of calcitonin in the C cell.