| Follicular cell | |
|---|---|
| Section of thyroid gland of sheep. X 160. ("Cubical epithelium" labeled at center left.) | |
| Code | TH H3.08.02.4.00007 |
Thyroid epithelial cells (also called follicular cells or principal cells) are cells in the thyroid gland that are responsible for the production and secretion of thyroid hormones, that is, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
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The thyroid epithelial cells take up iodine and amino acids from the blood circulation on the basolateral side, synthesize thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase from amino acids and secrete these into the thyroid follicles together with iodine. The thyroid epithelial cells can subsequently take up iodinated thyroglobulin from the follicles by endocytosis, extract thyroid hormones from it with the help of proteases and subsequently release thyroid hormones to the blood.
These thyroid hormones are transported throughout the body where they control metabolism (which is the conversion of oxygen and calories to energy). Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of their metabolism. The normal thyroid gland produces about 80% T4 and about 20% T3, however, T3 is about four times as potent as T4.
Iodine is taken up on the basolateral side of the thyroid epithelial cells by sodium-iodide symporters.[2] It is secreted into the follicle through the chloride/iodide transporter pendrin on the apical side.
They are simple cuboidal epithelium and are arranged in spherical follicles surrounding colloid.
They have thyrotropin receptors on their surface, which respond to thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Embryologic origin is from a median endodermal mass in the region of the tongue (foramen cecum) in contrast to the parafollicular (C) cells that arise from the 4th branchial pouch.
Calcitonin-producing parafollicular cells (C cells) can be found scattered along the basement membrane of the thyroid epithelium.
Embryologic origin of these C-cells is endodermal, from the ultimobranchial body (4th pharyngeal pouch).
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