FRTL Cells

FRTL (Fischer Rat Thyroid Low Serum) cells are a continuous line of rat thyroid follicular cells that have been cultured to study various aspects of thyroid physiology and pathology. These cells are particularly notable for their ability to accumulate iodide intracellularly, a key characteristic reflective of thyroid function in vivo. This unique feature makes them suitable for research focused on thyroid hormone biosynthesis, the mechanism of iodide transport, and the effects of various substances on thyroid function.

The culture conditions for FRTL cells are quite specific, requiring a specialized medium to maintain their physiological properties. Supplements such as FBS, insulin, hydrocortisone, thyrotropin, transferrin, somatostatin, and glycyl-1-histidyl-lysine acetate are necessary to replicate the hormonal environment of the thyroid gland. This precise combination of conditions supports the cells’ typical growth pattern, where they tend to stack upon one another and form three-dimensional structures rather than spreading as a monolayer. This clustering behavior is significant as it mimics the follicular arrangement found in natural thyroid tissue, thus providing a more accurate model for studying thyroid cell interactions and dynamics in a controlled setting.