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Bone Remodeling

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Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

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Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...

Hormones and Bone Tissue

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Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

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Synthesis and Functions of Calcitonin

Synthesis and Functions of Calcitonin

Calcitonin, a vital polypeptide hormone, regulates calcium levels within body fluids. It is released by the parafollicular cells, also known as C cells, situated in the follicular epithelium of the thyroid gland. Calcitonin responds to fluctuations in blood calcium levels and the influence of gastrointestinal hormones like gastrin and cholecystokinin.
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The Parathyroid Glands

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The two pairs of parathyroid glands embedded within the posterior surface of the thyroid gland are restricted by a dense capsule around them. These glands comprise two distinct cell populations—parathyroid oxyphil and parathyroid principal cells- pivotal in calcium homeostasis.
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Two Techniques to Create Hypoparathyroid Mice: Parathyroidectomy Using GFP Glands and Diphtheria-Toxin-Mediated Parathyroid Ablation

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Parathyroid function in primary osteoporosis.

B L Riggs, C D Arnaud, J Jowsey

The Journal of Clinical Investigation

|January 1, 1973

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

In primary osteoporosis patients, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were mostly normal, suggesting bone loss isn't driven by overactive parathyroid glands. A small subset, however, showed abnormal PTH levels.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Bone Metabolism
Osteoporosis Research

Background:

Primary osteoporosis is a common condition characterized by decreased bone density.
The role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the pathogenesis of primary osteoporosis is not fully understood.
Measuring serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) can provide insights into parathyroid function.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels in untreated patients with primary osteoporosis.
To determine if elevated iPTH is associated with increased bone resorption in these patients.

Main Methods:

Serum iPTH was measured in 47 untreated primary osteoporosis patients using two specific radioimmunoassays.
Iliac crest bone biopsy specimens were analyzed to assess bone-resorbing surfaces.
Biochemical parameters related to bone metabolism were evaluated.

Main Results:

Mean iPTH levels were normal with one assay but significantly lower than normal (P < 0.001) with another assay.
No correlation was found between iPTH values and biochemical parameters or bone biopsy findings.
Seven patients (15%) exhibited elevated iPTH levels with at least one assay, suggesting a distinct subgroup.

Conclusions:

Increased bone resorption in most primary osteoporosis patients is unlikely to be caused by overactive parathyroid glands.
A small subset of patients may have altered parathyroid function contributing to their osteoporosis.
Further research is needed to elucidate the specific role of PTH in different osteoporosis patient populations.