Early stage of urolithiasis formation in experimental hyperparathyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
We have previously noted marked acceleration in the proliferative activity of parathyroid cells in rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Using this proliferative potential we investigated whether transplantation of these enlarged parathyroids into normal rats would induce hyperparathyroidism and renal stones.


METHODS
We used 26-week-old male rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia as donors, and 5-week-old normal male Sprague-Dawley rats and rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia as recipients. Enlarged parathyroid glands were transplanted into group 1--Sprague-Dawley rats with no treatment, group 2--Sprague-Dawley rats that received FK-506 as an immuno-suppressor, group 3--rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia rats that underwent parathyroidectomy plus FK-506 administration and group 4--Sprague-Dawley rats that underwent parathyroidectomy plus FK-506 administration. Parathyroidectomy was performed in recipients before transplantation to ensure a low calcium condition.


RESULTS
Grafts were rejected within 11 and 15 weeks in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In group 3, 78% of the grafts were successful even after 19 weeks. In group 4 graft survival was 30% at 15 weeks with complete rejection at 19 weeks. In group 3 gradually elevated serum parathyroid hormone was observed as well as stone plaques containing calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate in renal tubules located mainly in the corticomedullary junction. An increased number of plaques was associated with higher parathyroid hormone.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that transplanted parathyroid glands function with an immunosuppressive agent and the maintenance of hypocalcemic conditions, and they secrete sufficient parathyroid hormone to demonstrate hyperparathyroidism. Plaque in these kidneys indicates an early stage of urolithiasis caused by hyperparathyroidism.
Department of Urology, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka Higashi, Asahikawa, Japan.
S
S
Yamaguchi
S
S
Yachiku
M
M
Okuyama
M
M
Tokumitsu
S
S
Kaneko
H
H
Tsurukawa
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000032:analysis; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D002118:Calcium