Thyroglobulin secretion by cultured human thyroid cells from cold nodules

An elevated serum thyroglobulin level has been demonstrated in patients with cold nodules, without determination of the exact cause. In this preliminary study, we examined thyroglobulin production in vitro by cells from cold nodules and compared it to that of normal cells taken from the contralateral lobe of the same patient. Cells were cultured in monolayer and in collagen gel. Differences were observed between normal and pathological cells depending upon the culture model. We have attempted to interpret these differences which could result from anomalies in the pathological cells at the level of the apical membrane.