Humoral and cellular immune response to thyroglobulin in different inbred rat strains.

The role of humoral and cellular immunity in experimental autoimmune thyroiditis was examined in inbred rat strains. A significant relationship between thyroiditis and both in vitro proliferative responses to rat thyroglobulin and in vivo delayed hypersensitivity (ear test) was observed in responsive rats. Comparison of the autoantibody response and thyroiditis among rat strains revealed no direct correlation of RT1 genotype with either parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]