Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology logoLink to The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology
. 1958 Jan 25;4(1):13–22. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.1.13

The Fine Structure of the Parathyroid Gland

Jerry Steven Trier 1
PMCID: PMC2224324  PMID: 13502423

Abstract

The fine structure of the parathyroid of the macaque is described, and is correlated with classical parathyroid cytology as seen in the light microscope. The two parenchymal cell types, the chief cells and the oxyphil cells, have been recognized in electron micrographs. The chief cells contain within their cytoplasm mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi bodies similar to those found in other endocrine tissues as well as frequent PAS-positive granules. The juxtanuclear body of the light microscopists is identified with stacks of parallel lamellar elements of the endoplasmic reticulum of the ergastoplasmic or granular type. Oxyphil cells are characterized by juxtanuclear bodies and by numerous mitochondria found throughout their cytoplasm. Puzzling lamellar whorls are described in the cytoplasm of some oxyphil cells. The endothelium of parathyroid capillaries is extremely thin in some areas and contains numerous fenestrations as well as an extensive system of vesicles. The possible significance of these structures is discussed. The connective tissue elements found in the perivascular spaces of macaque parathyroid are described.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (2.0 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BEN GEREN B. The formation from the Schwann cell surface of myelin in the peripheral nerves of chick embryos. Exp Cell Res. 1954 Nov;7(2):558–562. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4827(54)80098-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Castleman B., Mallory T. B. The Pathology of the Parathyroid Gland in Hyperparathyroidism: A Study of 25 Cases. Am J Pathol. 1935 Jan;11(1):1–72.17. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DALTON A. J., FELIX M. D. Cytologic and cytochemical characteristics of the Golgi substance of epithelial cells of the epididymis in situ, in homogenates and after isolation. Am J Anat. 1954 Mar;94(2):171–207. doi: 10.1002/aja.1000940202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DALTON A. J., FELIX M. D. Studies on the Golgi substance of the epithelial cells of the epididymis and duodenum of the mouse. Am J Anat. 1953 Mar;92(2):277–305. doi: 10.1002/aja.1000920204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DEMPSEY E. W., PETERSON R. R. Electron microscopic observations on the thyroid glands of normal, hypophysectomized, cold-exposed and thiouracil-treated rats. Endocrinology. 1955 Jan;56(1):46–58. doi: 10.1210/endo-56-1-46. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FARQUHAR M. G., RINEHART J. F. Electron microscopic studies of the anterior pituitary gland of castrate rats. Endocrinology. 1954 May;54(5):516–541. doi: 10.1210/endo-54-5-516. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Foster C. L. Studies on the parathyroid of the mouse: 2. Some observations upon the post-natal cytological development of the normal gland, with particular reference to its mitotic activity and Golgi elements. J Anat. 1946 Oct;80(Pt 4):171–178. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HARTMANN J. F. An electron optical study of sections of central nervous system. J Comp Neurol. 1953 Aug;99(1):201–249. doi: 10.1002/cne.900990111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. KARRER H. E. The ultrastructure of mouse lung; general architecture of capillary and alveolar walls. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 May 25;2(3):241–252. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.3.241. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LATTA H., HARTMANN J. F. Use of a glass edge in thin sectioning for electron microscopy. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1950 Jun;74(2):436–439. doi: 10.3181/00379727-74-17931. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. LEVER J. D. Fine structural appearances in the rat parathyroid. J Anat. 1957 Jan;91(1):73–81. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. LEVER J. D. The subendothelial space in certain endocrine tissues. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Jul 25;2(4 Suppl):293–296. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.4.293. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. MONROE B. G. Electron microscopy of the thyroid. Anat Rec. 1953 Jul;116(3):345–361. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091160310. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. PALADE G. E. A small particulate component of the cytoplasm. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Jan;1(1):59–68. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.1.59. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. PALADE G. E. A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J Exp Med. 1952 Mar;95(3):285–298. doi: 10.1084/jem.95.3.285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. PALADE G. E. An electron microscope study of the mitochondrial structure. J Histochem Cytochem. 1953 Jul;1(4):188–211. doi: 10.1177/1.4.188. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. PALADE G. E., PORTER K. R. Studies on the endoplasmic reticulum. I. Its identification in cells in situ. J Exp Med. 1954 Dec 1;100(6):641–656. doi: 10.1084/jem.100.6.641. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. PALADE G. E. Studies on the endoplasmic reticulum. II. Simple dispositions in cells in situ. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Nov 25;1(6):567–582. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.6.567. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. PALADE G. E. The fine structure of mitochondria. Anat Rec. 1952 Nov;114(3):427–451. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091140304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. PAPPENHEIMER J. R. Passage of molecules through capillary wals. Physiol Rev. 1953 Jul;33(3):387–423. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1953.33.3.387. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. PEASE D. C. Electron microscopy of the vascular bed of the kidney cortex. Anat Rec. 1955 Apr;121(4):701–721. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091210402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. PORTER K. R., BLUM J. A study in microtomy for electron microscopy. Anat Rec. 1953 Dec;117(4):685–710. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091170403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. PORTER K. R. Electron microscopy of basophilic components of cytoplasm. J Histochem Cytochem. 1954 Sep;2(5):346–375. doi: 10.1177/2.5.346. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. PORTER K. R. Observations on a submicroscopic basophilic component of cytoplasm. J Exp Med. 1953 May;97(5):727–750. doi: 10.1084/jem.97.5.727. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Pappenheimer A. M., Wilens S. L. Enlargement of the Parathyroid Glands in Renal Disease. Am J Pathol. 1935 Jan;11(1):73–91. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. RINEHART J. F., FARQUHAR M. G. The fine vascular organization of the anterior pituitary gland; an electron microscopic study with histochemical correlations. Anat Rec. 1955 Feb;121(2):207–239. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091210206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. WATSON M. L. Pores in the mammalian nuclear membrane. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1954 Dec;15(4):475–479. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(54)90004-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. YAMADA E. The fine structure of the gall bladder epithelium of the mouse. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Sep 25;1(5):445–458. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.5.445. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. YAMADA E. The fine structure of the renal glomerulus of the mouse. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Nov 25;1(6):551–566. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.6.551. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES