RESUMO
We were studied the proliferative activity of the thyroid gland's cells of embryo and adult Wistar rats due to using the antiserum against the cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The 100% of cells in thyroid's embryo was a positive on the 16th, 17th, 18th stages of the embryonic development (stages by Kornegy). The percent of PCNA-positive cells considerably increased to 67% on the 19th stage. This fact the 20th and 21th stages of prenatal development relatively the previous stage coordinate with starting of the thyroid hormones in fetal thyroid gland and the first follicles formation. The small increasing of number of PCNA-positive cells detected on the 20th and 21th stages of prenatal development relatively the previous stage. Considerable elevation of the proliferating cells to 75% immediately before the birth (22th stage). An infant rats had have the 39% of proliferating cells. The 51% cells divided on the 5th day of postnatal development. Considerable decreased of the cell's division was occurred until the postnatal day 60. Using of the PCNA antiserum allowed to study cell proliferation in thyroid gland during pre- and postnatal rat development.