EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED HYPERPARATHYROIDISM ON RENAL FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE

Abstract

The capacity of the rat kidney for concentrating urine is lowered on administration of parathyroid hormone but returns to normal after withdrawal of the hormone. After injection of parathormone, serum glycoprotein was elevated. Histochemical examination of kidney tissue after the administration of moderate doses of parathormone indicates a reduced succinic dehydrogenase activity suggestive of mitochondrial destruction. In the tubular lumens, hyaline casts were formed in which mineral salts were subsequently deposited. Electron micrographic studies revealed that parathormone caused Ca deposition in the proximal convoluted tubules that was preceded by intracellular accumulation of microbodies, precipitation of Ca salt in the basement membrane, and formation of large granules which seemed to be released into the tubular lumen.