Effect of lithium on parathyroid hormone-induced calcium release from bone rudiments

Lithium treatment of humans and animals has been associated with adverse effects on bone and mineral metabolism. In order to determine whether lithium was altering the skeletal response to parathyroid hormone, we incubated bone rudiments for 5 days in the presence or absence of the drugs. Lithium had no effect on either parathyroid hormone-induced cyclic AMP generation or 45Ca release from the bone rudiments. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the skeletal effects of lithium are not mediated via inhibition of the parathyroid hormone-adenyl cyclase-cyclic AMP system.