Cryopreserved Rat Thyroid Autotransplantation in the Treatment of Postoperative Hypothyroidism

Abstract

To verify the viability and functionality of cryopreserved thyroid autotransplantation in rats who underwent total thyroidectomy in the treatment of postoperative hypothyroidism. Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly assigned into groups (G) with eight animals each: control (CG); simulation (SG); hypothyroidism (HTG) and transplanted (TG). At the beginning and in the 13th week of the experiment, serum levels of total T3, free T4, TSH and calcium were determined. In both the first and 14th weeks, scintigraphic examinations, 99m-Tc pertechnetate radioisotope biodistribution and histopathology were performed. In the 14th week, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cellular apoptosis (caspase-3) were also evaluated. In the 13th week, the transplanted animals had normal serum levels of total T3 and free T4. TSH levels showed a tendency towards normality. In the 14th week, scintigraphic exams displayed graft isotopic uptake in all animals in the TG group. Histological examinations 13 weeks after transplantation showed the viability and functionality of thyroid follicles. PCNA revealed significant immunoreactivity of the graft (p < 0.001) when the TG was compared to the CG. There was no difference between CG and TG considering the expression of activated caspase-3. The experimental study confirmed the viability and functionality of thyroid autotransplantation implanted in skeletal muscle with evidence of cell proliferation without cellular apoptosis. This surgical strategy was effective in the treatment of postoperative hypothyroidism.

Cryopreserved Thyroid Tissue Autotransplant in Pediatric Age Patients: A Feasibility Study and Literature Review

“…Studies were clustered according to their geographical distribution, half of which were published by US and European research groups [ 18 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 67 ] ( Figure 6 ), while the animals enrolled in the studies were mostly murine and canine [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 67 , 68 ], among which only one study discussed orthotopic autotransplantation into the remaining thyroid lobe [ 33 ]. In all the other concerned heterotopic autotransplantations, the preferred site was the muscle (posterior limb, neck, and dorsal-abdominal region) [ 18 , 32 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 68 ]. Autotransplantation has been immediate in more than half of the studies [ 18 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 37 ,…”

“…In all the other concerned heterotopic autotransplantations, the preferred site was the muscle (posterior limb, neck, and dorsal-abdominal region) [ 18 , 32 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 68 ]. Autotransplantation has been immediate in more than half of the studies [ 18 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 67 , 68 ], while post-cryopreservation autotransplantation entailed a minority of cases [ 27 , 36 , 38 , 41 , 44 , 68 ]. The follow-up of these studies lasted on average two months (range 0.25–12 months) and the animals were monitored at different intervals following surgery, assessing levels of T3, fT3, T4, fT4, TSH, scintigraphy and histological examination.…”

“…The anatomopathological study was carried out on fragments which measured around 5 mm 3 , an intermediate size between those reported in the literature. In animal studies, Gàl et al [ 36 ] successfully cryopreserved 5 mm 3 canine thyroid fragments, Yüce et al [ 44 ] preserved fragments of hare thyroid slightly larger than 1 mm 3 and in rats, Vasconcellos et al [ 41 ] cryopreserved an entire thyroid lobe. Among these, only Vasconcellos et al [ 41 ] and Gal et al [ 36 ] performed a histological examination three and a half and one months after the autotransplant, respectively.…”

“…Studies were clustered according to their geographical distribution, half of which were published by US and European research groups [18,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]67] (Figure 6), while the animals enrolled in the studies were mostly murine and canine [28][29][30][31]33,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42]67,68], among which only one study discussed orthotopic autotransplantation into the remaining thyroid lobe [33]. In all the other concerned heterotopic autotransplantations, the preferred site was the muscle (posterior limb, neck, and dorsal-abdominal region) [18,32,[36][37][38][41][42][43][44]68]. Autotransplantation has been immediate in more than half of the studies [18,27,[29][30][31][32][33]…”

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing tumor progression and complications between radiofrequency ablation and thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma

“…The TNM stage was confirmed and diagnosed before treatment by either physical examination, imaging, diagnostic tumor markers, or thyroid function test ( 48 – 50 ). Surgical treatment options exist with inevitably greater trauma and more tissue resection ( 51 ). Clinicians need to operate resections based on laboratory tests and imaging examinations data ( 52 ).…”