The nature of the thyroid auto-antibodies present in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (lymphadenoid goitre).

We are indebted to Dr Rita H. Cornforth of the National Institute for Medical Research for the synthesis of [2-14C]mevalonic acid; to Professor A. Wormall, F.R.S., for a gift ofsqualene and to Horlicks Ltd. for a supply of ,B-mercaptoethylamine (Becaptan). The spectroscopic examination of the microsomes were done by Dr F. A. Holton. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the skilled technical assistance of Mr K. Clifford and Mr T. Flynn. A grant from the Eli illy Foundation to the Medical Research Council for the purchase of our Spinco Model L centrifuge is also gratefully acknowledged.