Parathyroid Morphology in Gerbils after Calcium and Parathormone Administration

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Abstract
Microscopic studies were carried out on three groups of Mongolian gerbils: one experimental group receiving PTE injections; another experimental group receiving PTE and calcium injections; and one control group receiving saline injections. Hypercalcemia was recorded in both experimental groups after the injections, whereas the controls remained normocalcemic. Light microscopically the parathyroid glands from all animal groups showed a similar picture of sheets of chief cells with varying cytoplasmic density. Ultrastructural examination disclosed in all animal groups chief cells with varying electron density and content of organelles; in the experimental animals, however, there was a preponderance of cells with inconspicuous Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum and also many cells with structurally altered mitochondria. It is concluded that although injections of PTE and calcium results in functional inactivity in many parathyroid cells, it is not possible to induce a complete inactivity or atrophy in intact animals by this kind of treatment. This might be due to the existence of a functional cyclus in the parathyroid cells or to effects of calcitonin. 1 Supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council (Projects No. B73-17X-3499-02 and B74-17X-3499-03) and the Medical Research Council of the Swedish Life Offices.

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