ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF NORMAL AND I131 TREATED THYROID GLAND OF NEWT, NOTOPHTHALMUS VIRIDESCENS

The fine structure of the thyroid of the newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, was studied with the electron microscope. Specimens were injected I.P. with 30 μc of I131 and sample thryoids were examined at 12 hour intervals thereafter. The ultrastructure of the normal thyroid gland is described, and compared with that of the irradiated glands. The first visible ultrastructural change observed after injection of the radioiodin was a striking alteration of nuclear morphology. This effect was followed by an increase in the frequency of whorled lamellar structures, a decrease in the number of microvilli, and degeneration of the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Further effects observed included an increase in the number of large cytoplasmic granules and a decrease in the number of smaller ones, the presence of autophagic vacuoles, and finally, an increase in the number of degenerated mitochondria. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.