title: Hyperparathyroidism and abnormal calcitriol metabolism in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.
abstract: Abnormalities of calcium metabolism and of its two principal regulating hormones, parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), have been reported in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Reports of abnormal calcitriol metabolism in the SHR by several groups have not provided measurements of tissue calcitriol receptors. Similarly, few data are available as to the parathyroid status of the SHR. In the present study, circulating calcitriol levels and intestinal and parathyroid gland calcitriol receptor status were determined in male SHR and in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Parathyroid status was investigated by determination of parathyroid gland mass together with tissue micromorphometry and by quantitative histology of bone as a measure of the biological action of parathyroid hormone. Circulating calcitriol levels were reduced in the 11-week-old SHR compared with the WKY rat (165 +/- 23 vs. 194 +/- 28 pmol/l, p less than 0.01, mean +/- SD). Calcitriol-free ratio was diminished and maximal specific binding capacity for calcitriol was increased in the SHR in parathyroid tissue (172 +/- 4.9 vs. 123 +/- 6.6 fmol/mg protein, p less than 0.01) and in intestinal mucosa with no change of receptor affinity. Plasma ionized calcium (1.29 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.45 +/- 0.35 mmol/l, p less than 0.05) and phosphate (1.5 +/- 0.26 vs. 2.4 +/- 0.03 mmol/l, p less than 0.05) were significantly lower in the SHR. Parathyroid gland mass was increased in the SHR (59 +/- 12 vs. 17 +/- 7 micrograms/100 g body wt, p less than 0.001) as a result of hyperplasia and not hypertrophy. Higher osteoclast numbers were observed in SHR bone (27.6 +/- 0.79 vs. 23.9 +/- 0.66 osteoclasts/mm2, p less than 0.01), suggesting increased parathyroid hormone activity. In summary, in the 11-week-old SHR we observed reduced circulating calcitriol levels together with increased tissue calcitriol receptor numbers, increased parathyroid gland mass, and histological evidence of hyperparathyroidism. It is possible that these abnormalities influence the development of hypertension in the SHR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merke
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cournot-Witmer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouillon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drüeke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ritz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR / Q000378:metabolism*; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000378:metabolism*; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D002117:Calcitriol