[Human parathyroid allotransplantation: comparison of donor grafts]

The authors compared the degrees of cell maturity, antigenicity and secretory function of parathyroid (PTG) tissues from cadavers (C-PTG), 20-28 wk fetus (F-PTG) and PTG adenoma (A-PTG). In A-PTG tissues, clustered or scattered immature cells were observed, but there were none in F-PTG and C-PTG. C-PTG and A-PTG tissues revealed better secretory function than F-PTG. No clear difference was found in HLA class I (ABC) antigen quantity among the three donor PTG tissues, but the amount of HLA class II (DR) antigen in A-PTG and F-PTG were significantly lower than that in C-PTG. The results demonstrate that C-PTG, with better function, and F-PTG, with lower antigenicity, can be used in clinical transplantation. A-PTG is not suitable for clinical transplantation due to their immaturity and possibility of carcinomatous change.