Studies on the Pathogenesis of Experimental Immune Thyroiditis.

Abstract

1. Among each of 2 groups of guinea pigs immunized with 50 μg and 500 μg of picrylated thyroglobulin in Freund's adjuvant respectively, 57.2% (63 of 110 animals) developed thyroiditis 17 days following the initial dose of antigen. Delayed skin reactivity to intradermal thyroglobulin was observed in 72.7% of the animals. There was no significant difference in incidence of thyroiditis and delayed skin reactivity in the 2 groups of animals. However, circulating antithyroglobulin antibody as determined by passive hemagglutination, was found in 4.6% (2 of 43 animals) in the low antigen group and 30% (18 of 60 animals) in the high antigen group.