The role of the parathyroid glands in adrenocorticotrophin-induced hypertension in the rat

The aim of this study was to determine whether parathyroidectomy (PTx) woul d modify hypertension secondary to adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) administrati on. Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to one of five gro ups; (i) sham (saline) treatment (NaCl 0.9% s/c 0.5 ml/kg/day), (ii) ACTH t reatment (Synacthen Depot 0.5 mg/kg/day), (iii) saline/PTx/1% CaCl2 in wate r, (iv) ACTH/PTx/1% CaCl2 in water and (v) ACTH/1% CaCl2 in water. Tail cuf f systolic blood pressure (SBP) and metabolic parameters were measured on a lternate days for 4 control (C) and 11 treatment days (T0-T10). There was n o change in SEP in the sham and saline/PTx/CaCl2 groups over T0-10. SEP inc reased in the ACTH treated groups. PTx did not modify ACTH-induced increase s in SEP or metabolic effects. These results do not support a role for the parathyroids in the genesis of ACTH-induced hypertension in the rat.