ABSTRACT
The rate of DNA fragmentation was studied in intact thyroid tissue and thyroid carcinoma tissue. The determination of low molecular-weight DNA concentrations and the electrophoretic analysis of DNA isolated from the thyroid tissues and tumors, followed by the calculation of the content of oligonucleosome fractions, indicated a drastic reduction in the DNA fragmentation rate in papillary carcinomas and no its significant changes in follicular carcinomas. In the intact thyroid tissue, α-tocopherol and potassium iodide at a concentration of 10-7 M inhibited the rate of stimulated DNA fragmentation in vitro. The agents showed no effect in the papillary carcinoma tissue and their effect was similar in the follicular carcinoma tissue, but it was less pronounced in intact thyroid tissue.
