Abstract
The morphology, cell proliferation and function of transplanted normal, hyperplastic and adenomatous human parathyroid tissue was studied after transplantation to athymic mice. The iPTH was evaluated in relation to morphology. Human parathyroid tissue collected during surgery for hyper-parathyroidism was implanted subcutaneously into athymic mice (nu/nu-BALB/cA) and was analysed 1, 4, 7 and 12 weeks after transplantation. The transplants were examined by light and electron microscopy and by autoradiography after continuous infusion of 3H-thymidine. The relative amount of viable tissue was evaluated using a computer image analysing programme. Graft function was evaluated by measuring human iPTH in mouse serum. A transplant take ratio of 93% was observed. The proliferation rate in adenoma grafts at 12 weeks after transplantation was five and fifteen times that observed in normal and hyperplastic transplants, respectively. In normal and adenoma groups, a continuous increase in iPTH concentrations was observed, but in trie hyperplastic group the iPTH remained on the same level. The secretion of iPTH in relation to the amount of transplanted tissue and the fraction of viable tissue was at the same level at 12 weeks in normal and adenomatous grafted animals. In conclusion, human parathyroid tissue was successfully transplanted and maintained its original structure. The growth potential, but not the iPTH secretion, was significantly higher in adenoma grafts compared to grafts from hyperplastic and normal glands.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Saxe A.W. Parathyroid transplantation: A review. Surgery 95: 507, 1984.
Niederle B., Roka R., Brennan M. F. The transplantation of parathyroid tissue in man: Development, indication, technique, and results. Endocr. Rev. 3: 245, 1982.
Gao Z., Zhu Y., Yao C., Li D., He X. Nude mouse interim host model for human parathyroid grafts I. Structure and secretory function. Chin. Med. Sci. J. 7: 92, 1992.
Goudet P., Cougard P., Zeller V., Brunet-Lecomte P., Viard H. Transplantation of human cryopreserved adenomatous and hyperplastic parathyroid tissue to the hypocalcemic nude mouse. World J.Surg. 17: 628, 1993.
Schachter P., Buckley N., Oyama H., Christy M., Leight Jr G. S., Lobaugh B. Primary hyperparathyroidism: A new experimental animal model. Surgery 106: 997, 1989.
Schachter P., Christy M.D., Leight Jr G.S., Lobaugh B. Function in athymic nude mice of parathyroid heterografts from patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Surgery 108: 1040, 1990.
Tanaka Y., Funahashi H., Imai T., Tobinaga J., Murase H., Andoh H., Wada M., Matsuyama T., Tominaga Y., Takagi H. Heterotransplantation of human parathyroid glands into nude mice. Endocrine J. 42: 9, 1995.
Ander S., Blomkvist L., Smeds S., Johansson K., Mölne J. Revascularisation of human parathyroid tissue transplanted to athymic mice. APMIS. Accepted, 1997.
Smeds S., Wollman S. H. 3H-thymidine labeling of endothelial cells in thyroid arteries, veins and lymphatics during thyroid stimulation. Lab. Invest. 48: 285, 1983.
Mölne J., Jörtsö E., Smeds S., Ericsson L.E. Vascularisation of normal human thyroid tissue transplanted to nude mice. Expl. Cell. Biol. 55: 104, 1987.
Newman D.J., Ashby J.P. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of a two-site immunoradiometric assay for intact parathyroid hormone. Ann. Clin. Biochem. 25: 654, 1988.
Gundersen H.J.G., Bendtsen T.F., Korbo L., Marcusen N., Møller A., Nielsen K., Nyengaard J.R., Pakkenberg B., Sørensen F. B., Vesterby A., West M. J. Some new, simple and efficient stereological methods and their use in pathological research and diagnosis. APMIS 96: 379, 1988.
Cinti S., Sbarbati A., Morroni M., Carboni V., Zancanaro C., Cascio V.L., Dickersin R. Parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism: An ultrastructural morphometric study of 25 cases. J. Pathol. 167: 283, 1992.
Nilsson O. Studies on the ultrastructure of the human parathyroid glands in various pathological conditions. [Thesis]. Departments of Anatomy and Surgery, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden, 1977.
Funahashi H., Satoh Y., Imai T., Ohno M., Narita T., Katoh M., Tanaka Y., Tobinaga J., Andoh H., Miyazaki K., Murase H., Takagi H. Our technique of parathyroid autotransplantation in operation for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Surgery 114: 92, 1993.
Lundström B., Anderberg B., Gillquist J. Clinical experience of parathyroid autotransplantation. Acta Chir. Scand. 144: 451, 1978.
Wells S.A., Stirman J.A., Bolman R.M. Parathyroid transplantation. World J.Surg. 1: 747, 1977.
Wells S.A., Gunnells J.C., Shelburne J.D., Schneider A.B., Sherwood L.M. Transplantation of the parathyroid glands in man: Clinical indications and results. Surgery 78: 34, 1975.
Feind C.R., Weber C.J., Derenoncourt F., Williams G.A., Hardy M.A., Reemtsma K. Survival and allotransplantation of cultured human parathyroids. Transplant. Proc. 11: 1011, 1979.
Mowlem A. Homograft replacement in dogs after total resection of thyroid and parathyroid glands. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet. 118; 25, 1964.
Jansson S., Tisell L.E. Autotransplantation of diseased parathyroid glands into subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. Surgery 101: 549, 1987.
Peter H.J., Gerber H., Studer H., Smeds S. Pathogenesis of heterogeneity in human multinodular goiter. J. Clin. Invest. 76: 1992, 1992.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ander, S.J.O., Blomkvist, L.M., Mölne, J.C. et al. Growth and function of human parathyroid tissue transplanted to athymic mice. J Endocrinol Invest 20, 640–647 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348025
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348025