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Biomedical subjects

A A Licata

Publications and source records attributed to A A Licata.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of prostaglandin E1 on the metabolism in rat parathyroid gland in vitro.

We investigated some effects of prostaglandin E1 on the metabolism of rat parathyroid glands using a culture system containing basal Eagle's medium supplemented with 5--10% heat-inactivated rat serum. Rat parathyroid glands incorporate [3H]fucose and 14C-labeled amino acids into cellular glycoproteins and secrete some of these into the culture medium. Gel filtration chromatography separates these glycoproteins into three classes, the smallest of which (peak 3) is secreted with immunoreactive parathyroid hormone. In cultures of 48 h, prostaglandin E1 (1 microgram/ml) specifically inhibits the secretion of peak 3 and of parathyroid hormone but has no effect on the incorporation of [3H]fucose, 14C-labeled amino acids, or [3H]uridine into parathyroid glands. Cytochalasin B inhibits the secretion of parathyroid hormone and the incorporation of isotopic fucose and amino acids. Cortisol stimulates incorporation of [3H]fucose and the secretion of parathyroid hormone even in the presence of inhibitory doses of prostaglandin E1. It is concluded that, in organ culture, prostaglandin E1 inhibits the secretion of parathyroid hormone and of a specific glycoprotein the function of which may be related to the secretion of the hormone.

Amino Acids

Spontaneous return of normocalcemia. Association with long-term hypoparathyroidism.

A 58-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with the superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. The patient had a 13-year history of hypocalcemia resulting from surgically induced hypoparathyroidism, which he controlled with calcium lactate. Nine months before admission, he discontinued his daily therapy and still remained in a normocalcemic state. After he had the SVC syndrome, a small-cell tumor of the lung was found. His serum calcium level decreased after radiation of the tumor mass, suggesting that the tumor may have been secreting a substance producing the normocalcemia. A substance was extracted from the tumor that reacted immunologically like parathyroid hormone.

Calcium