Culture Models for Studying Thyroid Biology and Disorders
Figure 1
(a) Histology of the thyroid gland, comprised of colloid-filled thyroid follicles, which are supported by extracellular matrix (ECM) and a capillary network. (b) A schema of a thyroid follicle in vivo and in 3-D collagen gel culture. The follicle is embedded in ECM. The component thyrocytes of the follicle show a specific cellular polarity: the apical side with microvilli faces the follicle lumen, and the basal pole with basal lamina faces the ECM. Thyrocytes undergo thyroid hormone synthesis and release in a basal-apical (follicle lumen)-basal direction. (c) A schema of thyrocytes in a monolayer culture system. The cells have a cellular polarity: the apical pole with microvilli faces culture medium, and the basal side without basal lamina faces the plastic surface. Thyrocytes in such an environment carry out thyroid hormone synthesis and release only in an apical-apical direction.
