Thyroid Follicle Transplantation by Percutaneous Injection

We previously reported on the isolation of thyroid follicles from thyroid tissue and their acceptance after allogeneic transplantation under the renal capsule with laparotomy in mice. In the present study, we introduced a new method of autologous transplantation of thyroid follicles accepted in the hosts after percutaneous injection into the spleen or into fat tissue in the peritoneal cavity without laparotomy in rats. This method of thyroid transplantation by a single injection, which induces little stress in the host, is applicable to autologous and allogeneic transplantations and may release patients from the burden of daily life-long administration of thyroxine.