Culture Models for Studying Thyroid Biology and Disorders

Figure 2

Scheme of 3-D collagen gel culture system and histology of thyroid follicles reconstructed in its system. Thyrocytes embedded in 3-D type I collagen gel (day 0) reconstruct small thyroid follicles (day 2). Thyroid follicles grow larger through proliferation of component thyrocytes (day 7). The lowest panel shows the histology of reconstructed thyroid follicles. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain.