Ribosomal and transfer RNA contents of the normal and pathologic human thyroid gland

One hundred and seventy seven pieces of normal or pathologic thyroid tissue from 17 patients were assayed for rRNA, tRNA and DNA content. The tRNA/DNA and rRNA/DNA ratios in pathologic tissue were statistically compared with the same ratios in normal tissue. In toxic adenoma (5 cases) and anoplastic cancer (2 cases), both ratios were increased. In cold nodules (9 cases), there was in increase of the tRNA/DNA ratio only in 1 case, of the rRNA/DNA ratio only in 4 cases, and of both ratios in 3 cases. In one case of a cold nodule in a Basedow's disease gland, there was no modification of these ratios. In Basedow's disease (3 cases), there was an increase of rRNA/DNA ratio only in one case.