Abstract
The human parathyroid glands are comprised of several cell types, and the parathyroid chief cell is the most frequent, consisting of approx 40-70% in a normal parathyroid gland. Other cell types are fibroblasts, oxyphil cells, and fat-storing cells. The oxyphil cells are mitochondria-rich acidophilic cells interspersed between the chief cells and spread throughout the gland (1). The fatstoring cells in some respects resemble the Ito cells in the liver (2). The amount of fat correlates to the activity of the gland, meaning that an active hyperplastic gland contains less fat than a normal parathyroid cell. This phenomenon has been used as a tool for diagnosing pathological features in extirpated parathyroid glands by performing the rather easy oil red O fat staining (1).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Grimelius, L., Åkerström, G., Johansson, H., Juhlin, C., and Rastad, J. (1991) The parathyroid glands, in Functional Endocrine Pathology (Kovacs, K., and Asa, L., eds.), Blackwell Scientific, Boston, pp. 375–395.
Liu, W., Hellman, P., Li, Q., et al.(1996) Biosynthesis and function of all-transand 9-cis-retinoic acid in parathyroid cells. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 229,922–929.
Hellman, P., Carling, T., Rask, L., and Akerstrom, G.(2000) Pathophysiology of primary hyperparathyroidism. Histol. Histopathol. 15, 619–627.
Ridefelt, P., Nygren, P., Hellman, P., et al.(1992) Regulation of parathyroid hormone release in normal and pathological parathyroid cells exposed to modulators of protein kinase C. Acta Endocrinol. 126, 505–509.
Brown, E.(1991) Extracellular Ca2+sensing, regulation of parathyroid cell function, and role of Ca2+and other ions as extracellular (first) messengers. Physiol. Rev. 71,371–411.
Brandi, M.L., Fitzpatrick, L. A., Coon, H. G., and Aurbach, G. D. (1986) Bovine parathyroid cells: Cultures maintained for more than 140 populations doublings. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 1709–1713.
Roussanne, M., Gogusev, J., Hory, B., et al.(1998) Persistance of Ca2+-sensing receptor expression in functionally active, long-term human parathyroid cultures. J. Bone Min. Res. 13, 354–362.
Liu, W., Ridefelt, P., Akerstrom, G., and Hellman, P.(2001) Differentiation of human parathyroid cells in culture. J. Endocrinol. 168 417–425.
Rudberg, C., Grimelius, L., Johansson, H., et al.(1986) Alterations in density, morphology and parathyroid hormone release of dispersed parathyroid cells from patients with hyperparathyroidism. Acta Path. Microbiol. Immunol. Scand. Sect. A 94,253–261.
Brown, E.M., Gamba, G., Riccardi, D., et al. (1993) Cloning and characterization of an extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing receptor from bovine parathyroid. Nature 366,575–580.
Ridefelt, P., Rastad, J., Åkerström, G., Hellman, P., and Gylfe, E.(1996) Imaging of Ca2+-induced cytoplasmic Ca2+responses in normal and pathological parathyroid cells. Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 26, 1166–1170.
Ridefelt, P., Hellman, P., Wallfelt, C, Akerstrom, G., Rastad, J., and Gylfe, E. (1992) Neomycin interacts with Ca2+sensing of normal and adenomatous parathyroid cells. Mol. Cell Endocrinol. 83, 211–218.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Hellman, P. (2005). Culture of Parathyroid Cells. In: Picot, J. (eds) Human Cell Culture Protocols. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 107. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-861-7:291
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-861-7:291
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-222-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-861-8
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols