Effect of lithium on incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine and tritiated thymidine into human parathyroid cells.
OBJECTIVE
To measure lithium chloride-stimulated incorporation of tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) by human parathyroid cells as an indicator of lithium's growth-promoting properties.


METHODS
Cell suspensions derived from abnormal human parathyroid tissue were incubated for 5 days with graded concentrations of lithium and pulsed with either 0.074 MBq of 3H-TdR or 0.6 microgram of BrdU. The 3H-TdR incorporation was measured by counting cell filtrates in a beta counter, and nuclear BrdU incorporation was determined by counting nuclei positively stained by an antibody to BrdU. Counts of BrdU-positive cells by two observers unaware of incubation conditions were correlated with 3H-TdR counts.


RESULTS
Cell suspensions derived from adenomatous and hyperplastic parathyroid glands demonstrated a dose-related increase in 3H-TdR incorporation. There was close correlation between the two observers' counts of BrdU-positive cells (r = 0.70, P = .01) and between each observer's counts and 3H-TdR counts (r = 0.70, P = .02, and r = 0.90, P = .01, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Lithium stimulates in vitro incorporation of 3H-TdR and BrdU by abnormal human parathyroid cells, consistent with a growth-promoting effect.
Saxe
A
A
Department of Surgery, Sinai Hospital, Detroit, Mich.
Gibson
G
G
D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects; D017186:Titrimetry; D014316:Tritium
D014316:Tritium; D008094:Lithium; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D013936:Thymidine