Morphology and distribution of calcitonin cells in the house shrew, Suncus murinus

The thyroparathyroid complex of house shrews was cut into serial sections. For demonstration of calcitonin cells (C cells) the sections were stained by HE, PAS/haematoxylin, Heidenhain's iron haematoxylin, Mallory's aniline blue, toluidine blue, Davenport's silver impregnation and lead haematoxylin. The C cells are oval to slender in shape and are distributed unevenly (totally lacking from the peripheral, cranial, caudal and isthmus region). They are also encountered in the internal parathyroid gland.