Abstract
Summary
Parathyroid function was assessed in intact male and female rats of various ages and in young, hypophysectomized male rats by measuring gland weight and uptake of the nonmetabolized amino acid, α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB). Parathyroid weight/body weight ratio was higher in females 8 weeks and older than in males. The tissue water/serum concentration (T/S) ratio for AIB was unaffected by age, sex, or season. Hypophysectomy with or without growth-hormone treatment resulted in proportional changes in parathyroid weight and body weight and did not affect the parathyroid T/S ratio for AIB. Serum calcium concentration was constant with age while serum inorganic phosphorus concentration decreased and total protein concentration increased.
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