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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1998; 106: S1-S3
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1212046
Molecular Basis of Autonomy

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Morphological, immunohistochemical and autoradiographic studies of thyroid autonomy

H. Gerber1 , U. Bürgi2 , U. Marti1 , 2 , H.-J. Peter3
  • 1Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Bern School of Medicine, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
  • 2Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Medicine, University of Bern School of Medicine, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
  • 3Division of Internal Medicine Anna-Seiler-Haus, University of Bern School of Medicine, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

The values and limits of morphological, immunohistochemical and autoradiographic methods in studies of thyroid autonomy are briefly discussed. For meaningful studies of molecular aspects of thyroid autonomy - such as for example TSH receptor and Gs-α gene mutations - it is absolutely crucial that the tissue analysed is well characterized and really is autonomous. This is particularly important in view of the well known heterogeneity of human goiter tissue in respect to many if not all functional and proliferative parameters. To prove functional and proliferative autonomy of thyroid tissue, autoradio-graphy is a very helpful tool, while simple morphology and immunohistochemistry do not contribute substantially to this aim.

Key words

Thyroid - autonomy - immunohistochemistry - autoradiography