Biochemical change in the liver and kidney of rats following parathyroidectomy

The effect of hypoparathyroidism and low blood calcium on enzyme levels in rat liver and kidney is shown. Four animal groups were used: parathyroidectomized (PTX), PTX with CaCl2 added in the drinking water, sham-operated controls and sham-operated with CaCl2 added in the drinking water. PTX significantly lowered serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium. Supplementation of CaCl2 in the drinking water increased serum Ca levels in PTX rats but not in the controls. Significant changes in several liver and kidney enzymes were seen. Most affected were the liver NADP dependent enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme. Similar patterns but with relatively smaller changes were seen in the liver enzymes, lactic dehydrogenase, hexokinase, and aspartate transferase. No significant differences between the groups were seen in the levels of malic dehydrogenase, isocitric dehydrogenase, fructose-6-phosphate kinase and cholinesterase. In the kidney, which was less affected than the liver, the only significant difference was seen in the level of malic enzyme. Serum total lipids in the PTX group were significantly lower. All the changes seen were partially reversed by Ca supplementation in the drinking water.