Peroxidase activities in autonomously functioning nodules and adjacent non-tumorous portions of thyroids

Peroxidase activities of autonomously functioning thyroid tumors (T) and surrounding non-tumorous tissue (N) in 5 patients were determined by employing guaiacol or iodide as the second substrates. The mean values for specific activities of T were 30 times (in iodide oxidation assay) or 4 times (in guaiacol oxidation assay) as high as those in N, being significantly higher than those of non-functioning tumors. The thyroglobulin-iodination activity of thyroid peroxidase in T was also found to correlate well to the iodide oxidation activity. These results suggest that the enhanced peroxidase activity in the nodules plays an essential role in the function of autonomously functioning thyroid nodules.