Short communication: parathyroid hormone-related peptide does not stimulate phosphate placental transport

It has been demonstrated that parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) stimulates calcium (Ca) placental transport. Ca and inorganic phosphorous (P) metabolisms are intimately linked. Thus we have studied the influence of PTHrP on P placental transport in ewes. In our experimental paradigm, synthetic human PTHrP (1-86) fragment intravenously injected in six single chronically catheterized fetuses (3 x 1 micrograms/fetus/day, from day 129 to day 140 of gestation) had no significant effect upon P placental transport which was 131 +/- 6 and 129 +/- 9 mg/kg fetal weight/day in treated and control fetuses, respectively.