Immunohistochemical demonstration of parathyroid hormone binding to specific cell types in fixed rat bone tissue

Deparaffinized sections of fixed decalcified neonatal rat radii were incubated in bovine PTH (bPTH; 1-10 MRC units/ml) or in PTH-solvent. They were then stained for PTH by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method using guinea pig antiserum to bPTH and the substrate 3,3'-diaminobenzidine-H2O2. Staining caused by nonspecific binding of PTH to the bone matrix and the glass slides supporting the sections was eliminated completely by preincubation of the sections in 100% normal goat serum. Cross-reactivity of the antiserum to erythrocytes was eliminated by preabsorption of the antiserum with fixed rat erythrocytes. After the cross-reactivity of the anti-PTH antiserum to erythrocyte components and the nonspecific binding of PTH to bone matrix were eliminated, we were able to demonstrate intense staining over the cytoplasm of the osteoclasts in rat radii sections incubated with PTH. Less intense staining was observed over the osteocytes, periosteal osteoblasts, and, possibly, the endosteal osteoblasts. An explanation for this differential staining could be that osteoclasts have a greater receptor number and/or a greater receptor affinity for the bPTH than do osteocytes and osteoblasts. This study demonstrates that binding of PTH to bone tissue can be localized in all identifiable osteoclasts, osteocytes, and osteoblasts, and thus suggests that all three cell types can interact directly with PTH.