THYROID AND PARATHYROID GLANDS OF RHINOPITHECUS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of the gross dissection and the histologic observation on the thyroid and parathyroid glands of Rhinopithecus. Specimens used in the studies are composed of R. roxellanae (1 (?), subad.), R. bieti (2 ♀♀, ad.; 1 ♀,juv.) and R. brelichi(2(?)(?),ad.). Besides the position and shape of the gross anatomy of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, attention was paid to the cellular types of the parathyroid glands. Material used for the histologic investigation is stained with HE and the modified Mallory-Azan methods and observed under the light microscopy. The principal results are summarized as follows1. The thyroid gland consists of two lateral obes. The dimension of the gland measured 18.0?9.0, 15.0?8.0 and 14.0?6.0 mm. in bieti;23.0?9.0 mm. in roxellanae; 25.0?9.0 and 30.0?1.0 mm in brelichi; and one isthmus measures 3.0?10.0, 2.0?10.0 and 2.0?6.0 mm. in bieti; 4.0?6.0 mm. in roxellanae; 5.0?12.0 and 5.0?14.0 mm. in brelichi.The total weight of the gland is 1.0, 0.5 and 0.3g in bieti; 0.9g in roxellanae; 0.9 and 1.8g in brelichi.The isthmus connects the lower edges of two lateral lobes. There is no pyramidal lobe.2. The blood supply is derived from the superior thyroid arteries. There are no inferior thyroid arteries in three kinds. The thyroid venous drainage is by the superior and inferior thyroid veins, there is no median thyroid vein.3. The sizes and shapes of the thyroid vary with species. Each animal possesses two parathyroid glands, one of each side, but their position is also variable in the different animals.4. The follicular epithelium of the thyroid contains two cellular types, viz. the typical follicular epithelial cells and C cells.5. The parathyroid gland of Rhinopithecus is histologically similar to that of Macaca mulatta and man, which contains four basic cellular elements. There is an intermediary cellular type probably a variant of the oxyphil cells.6. Grey blue granules are present in the pale oxyphil cells of the parathyroid glands of both brelichi and bieti.7. There are less oxyphil cells among the parenchymal cells of the parathyroid gland in the subadult roxellanae than in both bieti and brelichi.