Phospholipids of human thyroid gland.

The phospholipids from human thyroid have been identified and determined by two-dimensional chromatography. The total amount of lipid phosphorus was higher in pathological thyroids (especially in thyroid with Graves' disease) as compared to postmortem tissue. Insignificant differences in percentage distribution of phospholipids between normal tissue and from patients with Graves' disease and nodular goiter were noted. An increase of phosphatidylcholine and a decrease of phosphatidylinositol and sphingomyelin in pathological thyroids were observed. Physiological role of phospholipids in thyroid gland is discussed.