Imaging of Ca(2+)-induced cytoplasmic Ca2+ responses in normal and pathological parathyroid cells

Ca(2+)-induced changes in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were studied in bovine and normal and pathological human parathyroid cells using digital image analysis of fura-2-loaded cells. When raising external Ca2+ from 0.5 to 3.0 mmol L-1, about 95% of all cells reacted rapidly and simultaneously with sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i. In approximately two out of three bovine parathyroid cells, normal human cells and cells from most patients with hyperparathyroidism (HPT) the sustained phase was preceded by an overshooting [Ca2+]i transient. The proportion of cells, with such a transient was decreased in cells from severe cases of uraemic parathyroid hyperplasia only. However, pathological human cells from adenomas and normal-sized glands associated with adenomas, as well as cells from primary and uraemic hyperplasias, had lower peak and sustained levels than normal human and bovine cells. The results indicate that both normal and pathological parathyroid cells exhibit heterogeneity in their [Ca2+]i responses to elevation of external Ca2+. The Ca(2+)-induced [Ca2+]i transients and the sustained elevations are attenuated in pathological human parathyroid cells. However, the presence of the overshooting transient represents physiological variability rather than being a consequence of the pathophysiology associated with HPT.