Formation and serum disappearance of fragments of parathyroid hormone in the infused dog.

Radioiodinated parathyroid hormone [125I-PTH(1-84)] was infused into intact dogs. At various times venous samples were chromatographed to determine the levels of intact hormone (1-84) and large fragments in the circulation. Both bioactive (electrolytically iodinated) and inactive (chloramine-T-labeled) preparations were used. In both instances, plateau concentrations of intact hormone and of large metabolite(s) were quickly reached. After cessation of infusion the levels of intact hormone and metabolite(s) quickly declined. Clearly, in the dog, the peripheral formation and disappearance of large fragments of exogenous PTH occur at rates comparable to the clearance of the intact hormone itself.