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Protection by pregnancy

Against the sequelae of acute hyperparathyroidism

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Summary

In acute lethal hyperparathyroidism induced by parathyroid hormone (PTH) overdosage, albino rats invariably developed severe necrosis and calcification of the heart and of the kidneys. Death in hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia occurred from renal or myocardial failure.

Advanced pregnancy (third week) provided remarkable protection against the toxic sequelae of PTH overdosage, as evidenced by a striking decrease in the severity of nephrocalcinosis and complete prevention of myocardial injury in most instances. Hypercalcemia was milder and more transient and hyperphosphatemia did not develop. In the first and second week of gestation (early and mid-pregnancy), on the other hand, the picture of acute hyperparathyroidism was identical with that observed in non-pregnant rats.

The fetuses of rats in late pregnancy remained apparently unaffected in growth and development by the induced hyperparathyroid state of their mothers. This finding and the considerable independence of fetal from maternal serum calcium levels was seen as evidence of lack of penetration of PTH through the placental barrier.

Some factors involved in the maintenance of the physiological difference between fetal and maternal serum calcium concentrations in the face of continuous equilibration by diffusion across the placental membrane were analyzed. It was demonstrated that spontaneous respiration in the excised fetus induced a sharp decline from markedly hypercalcemic to low normocalcemic serum levels within 90 min.

The protective effect against the sequelae of PTH overdosage in pregnant rats near term did not extend into the immediate post partum period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, New York Medical College Flower & Fifth Avenue Hospitals, New York City

    David Lehr & Marilyn Krukowski

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  1. David Lehr
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  2. Marilyn Krukowski
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Additional information

Dedicated to Prof. A. Jarisch on his 70th birthday.

This work has been supported by grant No. H-890 (C 10) from the National Heart Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.

Liberal supplies of PTH (Injection Parathyroid) were made available by Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, through the courtesy of Dr. Glenn W. Irwin.

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Lehr, D., Krukowski, M. Protection by pregnancy. Naunyn - Schmiedebergs Arch 242, 143–167 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258511

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258511

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