Related Experiment Videos
The parathyroid hormones: bone-forming agents for treatment of osteoporosis
J F Whitfield1, P Morley, G E Willick
1Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
This is a 3-part article. Part 1 is an overview of bone formation and resorption and the consequences of estrogen loss on bone. Part 2 comprehensively reviews the most current data on the ability of a family of potent osteoblast-stimulating bone-builders, the native 84-amino-acid parathyroid hormone (PTH), and certain of its 31- to 38- amino-acid fragments to stimulate the growth of animal and human bones. These PTHs are currently in, or about to enter, clinical trial as treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Part 3 provides a detailed consideration of how these PTHs might stimulate bone growth via PTH receptor signaling.