REGULATION OF PARATHYROID CELL-PROLIFERATION

The parathyroid normally has very few cells in mitosis but it retains the potential to proliferate. In-vivo studies in rats have demonstrate d that hypocalcaemia and high serum phosphate both lead to an increase in the number of proliferating cells, which is relevant to the increa sed parathyroid cell proliferation in chronic renal failure. Hypophosp hataemia and 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 decrease parathyroid cell proliferation. G enetic factors have been defined for multiple endocrine neoplasia whic h includes parathyroid cell hyperplasia, and in some parathyroid adeno mas there are genetic rearrangements.