Adaptation to calcium deprivation in the rat: effects of parathyroidectomy

The role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the adaptive response in gut calcium transport to calcium deprivation has been studied in the rat using both the in vitro everted duodenal sac and the in situ ligated duodenal segment technique. Intact or parathyroidectomized (PTX) young rats were placed on a low calcium (0.01%) diet for 7-, 14-, or 21-day adaptation periods and compared with control rats maintained on a high calcium (1.5%) diet. Prior PTX (3 days before the start of the adaptation period) abolished the adaptive response (enhanced calcium transport) induced by calcium deprivation for a 7-day adaptation period, but did not abolish a response after a 21-day period. A 14-day adaptation period gave equivocal results. It is concluded that PTH appears to be necessary for short-term (7-day) adaptation, but not for long-term (21-day) adaptation to calcium deprivation. However, if accessory parathyroid tissue is present, the data could be interpreted differently: the essentiality of PTH for the adaptive response might be independent of the length of the adaptation period. The data also contribute to a possible resolution of the controversy concerning the involvement of PTH in the regulation of intestinal calcium transport in the rat.