Chicken Parathyroid Hormone Gene Expression in Response to Gastrin,Omeprazole, Ergocalciferol,and Restricted Food Intake

Treatment with omeprazole, a long-acting proton pump inhibitor of acid secretion, induces hypergastrinemia. In chickens, omeprazole induces growth not only of the acid-producing mucosa (probably reflecting the trophic action of gastrin), but also of the parathyroid glands (hypertrophy + hyperplasia), while suppressing bone density and body weight gain without affecting blood calcium. The first part of the present study was concerned with the effect of omeprazole, ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂), and restricted food intake on the gene expression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the parathyroid glands of the chicken. Chickens were treated with omeprazole (400 μmol/kg/day, I.M.), food restriction, omeprazole + food restriction, ergocalciferol (250 000 IU/kg/day, S.C.), or ergocalciferol + omeprazole for 5 weeks. The weight gain of the chickens was monitored, and the weights of the parathyroid glands and femurs were determined at sacrifice. PTH mRNA in the parathyroid glands was analyzed by Northern blot. The second part of the study examined the effect of 3 weeks of continuous gastrin infusion (chicken gastrin 20–36, 5 nmol/kg/hour, S.C.) on the expression of PTH mRNA in the parathyroid glands. Omeprazole reduced the body weight and femur density (ash weight per volume) while greatly increasing the weight of the parathyroid glands and the PTH gene expression. Food restriction alone and ergocalciferol alone (at a dose that raised blood Ca²⁺) were without effect, but food restriction greatly enhanced the omeprazole-evoked increase in parathyroid gland weight and PTH gene expression. Gastrin increased the weight of the parathyroid glands and reproduced the effect of omeprazole on PTH gene expression. Hence, it seems likely that the effect of omeprazole reflects the ensuing hypergastrinemia. Received: 6 August 1996 / Accepted: 23 April 1997     

Partial determination of the primary structure of a variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma equiperdum. Composition and location of a carbohydrate moiety

Salivarian trypanosomes have the ability to evade the immune response of their hosts by the sequential expression of different cell surface glycoproteins. Among the isolated specific antigens from cloned variants of Trypanosoma equiperdum, a structural study was undertaken on two immunologically cross-reacting variant surface glycoproteins, and results concerning the basic antigenic type are reported. The glycoprotein was cleaved by cyanogen bromide, and amino acids of several purified fractions obtained by gel filtration chromatography of this cleavage mixture were sequenced by automated Edman degradation. Sequencing in particular allowed the identification of the N-terminal portion of the molecule (residues 1–74). Sugar compositions of the fractions have demonstrated the presence of at least two carbohydrate moieties in the glycoprotein. Using a subsequent enzymatic subcleavage we were able to locate the first glycosylation site in position 57. An important observation was that the first oligosaccharide identified was rich in mannose and devoid of galactose.     

Comparison of dried plum supplementation and intermittent PTH in restoring bone in osteopenic orchidectomized rats

Summary Bone loss was confirmed after 90 days in 50 6-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats that were sham-operated or orchidectomized (ORX). In this study, we have shown that dried plum (DP) has potent effects on bone in terms of bone mass, microarchitecture, and strength in osteopenic male rats. Although these changes may be mediated through the suppression of bone resorption, the fact that the restoration in some of the bone structural and biomechanical parameter shares some similarities with parathyroid hormone (PTH) should not be overlooked. Further investigation is needed on a mechanistic level to clarify the influence of DP on bone metabolism. Introduction This study was designed to investigate the extent to which DP reverses bone loss in osteopenic ORX rats and to compare its effects to PTH. Materials and methods Fifty, 6-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats were sham-operated or ORX, and bone loss was confirmed after 90 days. The ORX groups were assigned to control (AIN-93M) diet, 25% DP diet, or PTH (80 μg/kg) for 90 days. Results DP induced an 11% increase in vertebral and femoral BMD compared to ORX-controls. BMD in the PTH-treated group was increased by 20.7% (vertebra) and 17.9% (femur). Vertebral trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) and number were increased by DP and trabecular separation was decreased compared to controls, which were similar to PTH. Alterations in trabecular bone of the femur were similar to those in the vertebra, but DP did not restore BV/TV to the same extent. Cortical thickness was improved by DP and further enhanced by PTH. DP tended to decrease urinary deoxypyridinoline and calcium, but did not alter alkaline phosphatase or osteocalcin. Conclusion We conclude that though the degree of improvement was not equivalent to PTH with regard to all parameters, DP reverses bone loss due to ORX and the mechanisms should be further investigated.     

Action of bPTH and bPTH fragments on embryonic bone in vitro: Dissociation of the cyclic AMP and bone resorbing response

Summary The effects of bPTH-(1-84), bPTH-(1-34), [Nle-8, Nle-18, Tyr-34] bPTH-(1-34), bPTH-(1-34) amide (NTA 1-34, desamino bPTH-(1-34), bPTH-(2-34), bPTH-(3-34), and [Nle-8, Nle-18, Tyr-34] bPTH-(3-34) amide (NTA 3-34) were tested in cultured bone cells, isolated from the osteoblast layers of fetal chicken calvaria (cyclic AMP) and in fetal rat calvaria (cyclic AMP, Ca release, and lactate production). Only bPTH-(1-84), bPTH-(1-34), and NTA 1-34 increased cyclic AMP production in a doserelated manner, both in calvaria and in bone cells, whereas all fragments (except NTA 3-34) stimulated bone resorption, the order of decreasing potency being bPTH-(1-84), NTA 1-34, bPTH-(1-34), desamino bPTH-(1-34), bPTH-(2-34), bPTH-(3-34). As in human cells, the antagonist NTA 3-34 inhibited specifically and in a dose-dependent way the cyclic AMP response of maximal concentrations of both bPTH-(1-84) and bPTH-(1-34) in rat calvaria and in chicken bone cells, when measured after short (15 min) and longer (1 1/2–16 h) incubation periods. In addition, measured after 4 h of incubation, NTA 3-34 completely inhibited bPTH-(1-84)-stimulated Ca release using maximal and submaximal concentrations. However, after 6–24 h of incubation, NTA 3-34 had no effect on bPTH-(1-84)-stimulated Ca and lactate release, even at an antagonist/agonist ratio up to 12.5 M, perhaps due to its lower affinity for the PTH receptor. From these findings we propose that (a) in bone there are two types of receptors, one governing demineralization via regulation of the calcium influx and one governing adenylate cyclase activity, and (b) the receptors are different from each other with respect to their affinities toward the agonists and the antagonist.     

Correlation of electron microscopic and secretory response of human parathyroid adenomas with different calcium concentrations in organ culture

Summary Twelve parathyroid chief cell adenomas from patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were incubated in a tissue culture system in the presence of different calcium concentrations and for various time periods. The endocrine response of the tissue was examined electron microscopically and radioimmunologically.After incubation in a medium of low calcium concentration the parathyroid adenomas showed ultrastructural signs of stimulation with proliferation of the hormone-synthesizing organelles. The development of the ultrastructural response could first be observed after four hours and increased up to several days. Radioimmunologically, an increase of the hormone secretion could be demonstrated.Converse results were obtained after incubation of the tumor tissue under suppressive culture conditions.To check for de-novo synthesis of the hormone released the tissue was incubated in a ⁷⁵Se-methionine-containing medium. This resulted in radioactivity of the secreted parathyroid hormone, indicating de novo synthesis in our culture system.The biological potency of the released hormone was demonstrated by comparison of the PTH out of the medium with the international human MRC standard using two different radioassays.The technical assistance of Mrs. E. Lehmann and B. Sehringer is gratefully acknowledged. For diagnosis and surgery we are endebted to Prof. Dr. F. Kuhlencordt and Dr. G. Koch (both University of Hamburg), Dr. M. Bressel and Dr. H. Hüsselmann (both General Hospital Hamburg-Harburg). This work was supported by a grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 34, Endokrinologie.     

Is vitamin D a determinant of muscle mass and strength?

There remains little consensus on the link between vitamin levels and muscle mass or strength. We therefore investigated the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2) D), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels with skeletal muscle mass and strength. We studied 311 men (mean age, 56 years; range, 23-91 years) and 356 women (mean age, 57 years; range, 21-97 years) representing an age-stratified, random sample of community adults. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the association of skeletal muscle mass (by total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and strength (handgrip force and isometric knee extension moment) with each of 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)(2) D, and PTH quartiles, adjusted for age, physical activity, fat mass, and season. We found no consistent association between 25(OH)D or PTH and any of our measurements of muscle mass or strength, in either men or women. However, in subjects younger than 65 years, there was a statistically significant association between low 1,25(OH)(2) D levels and low skeletal mass in both men and women and low isometric knee extension moment in women, after adjustment for potential confounders. Modestly low 25(OH)D or high PTH levels may not contribute significantly to sarcopenia or muscle weakness in community adults. The link between low 25(OH)D and increased fall risk reported by others may be due to factors that affect neuromuscular function rather than muscle strength. The association between low 1,25(OH)(2) D and low skeletal mass and low knee extension moment, particularly in younger people, needs further exploration.     

Ubiquitination-deubiquitination balance dictates ligand-stimulated PTHR sorting

Parathyroid hormone receptors (PTHR) are promptly internalized upon stimulation by activating (PTH[1-84], PTH[1-34]) and non-activating (PTH[7-84], PTH[7-34]) ligands. Here, we characterized the mechanism regulating the sorting of internalized receptors between recycling and degradative pathways. PTHR recycles faster after challenge with PTH(1-34) than with PTH(7-34). PTHR recycling is complete by 2 h after PTH(1-34) stimulation, but incomplete at this time in cells treated with PTH(7-34). The slower and incomplete recycling induced by PTH(7-34) is due to proteasomal degradation. Both PTH(1-34) and PTH(7-34) induced PTHR polyubiquitination. Ubiquitination by PTH(1-34) was transient, whereas receptor ubiquitination after PTH(7-34) was sustained. PTH(1-34), but not PTH(7-34), induced expression of the PTHR-specific deubiquitinating enzyme USP2. Overexpression of USP2 prevented PTH(7-34)-induced PTHR degradation. We conclude that PTH(1-34) promotes coupled PTHR ubiquitination and deubiquitination, whereas PTH(7-34) activates only ubiquitination, thereby leading to PTHR downregulation. These findings may explain PTH resistance in diseases associated with elevated PTH(7-84) levels.     

糖尿病大鼠骨代谢的变化

目的研究糖尿病早期骨代谢改变。方法测定６周实验性糖尿病（ＳＴＺ－ＤＭ）大鼠空腹血糖、ＨｂＡ１ｃ、胰岛素、钙离子浓度、骨钙素、降钙素、ＰＴＨ和维生素Ｄ３。收集２４ｈ尿，测定白蛋白、肌酐、吡啶酚。结果糖尿病大鼠与正常对照组相比，血清钙浓度显著升高［（１３５．８５±１１．２８）对（１１７．２１±６．５２）ｍｇ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜０．０１］，骨钙素水平升高［（０．０７±０．０４）对（０．０５±０．０１）ｎｇ／ｍｌ，Ｐ＜０．０５］，维生素Ｄ３水平显著降低［（７．６３±１．８８）对（１１．５５±４．１１）ｎｇ／ｍｌ，Ｐ＜０．０５］，尿吡啶酚／肌酐显著降低［（４．７９±０．７５）对（７５．８４±６０．６７）ｎｍｏｌ／ｍｍｏｌ，Ｐ＜０．０１］；而血清降钙素和甲状旁腺素水平改变无统计学意义。结论糖尿病状态下存在骨代谢异常，主要表现为维生素Ｄ３降低、骨钙素升高及尿吡啶酚水平降低。糖尿病性骨质疏松可能与维生素Ｄ３水平降低及由于胰岛素缺乏所致的骨胶原合成障碍有关     

Verapamil increases serum ionized calcium and serum phosphate in patients with post-surgical hypoparathyroidism

The calcium homeostasis in eight patients with postoperative hypoparathyroidism was examined before and after 2 weeks of administration of verapamil in an oral dose of 80 mg three times daily. Serum ionized calcium increased during verapamil treatment (from mean +/- SD of 1.10 +/- 0.06 to 1.24 +/- 0.38 mmol l-1; P less than 0.05), as well as total serum calcium corrected for protein (from 2.11 +/- 0.13 to 2.18 +/- 0.13 mmol l-1; P less than 0.05). During treatment with verapamil there was an increase in serum phosphate (from 1.08 +/- 0.15 to 1.19 +/- 0.20 mmol l-1 P less than or equal to 0.05) and in the urinary excretion of phosphate (P/creatinine ratio from 1.22 +/- 0.69 to 1.83 +/- 0.97; P less than or equal to 0.05). The serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 and serum parathyroid hormone were below the detection limits both before and after verapamil treatment. There were no significant changes either of the intestinal absorption of calcium or of the urinary calcium excretion. Serum osteocalcin was insignificantly reduced after treatment (1.60 +/- 0.70 before treatment and 1.25 +/- 0.71 micrograms l-1 after treatment). Thus in patients with post-surgical hypoparathyroidism verapamil has effects on calcium and phosphorous homeostasis. Since calcium absorption was not influenced by verapamil, it is suggested that verapamil affects bone mineral metabolism.