Parathyroid transplants and unilateral renal delivery of parathyroid hormone in domestic fowl.

Exogenous parathyroid hormone (bovine 1-84 PTH) was infused unilaterally into the renal portal system or unilaterally into the renal arterial system of domestic fowl. Endogenous PTH was secreted unilaterally into the renal portal system by parathyroid tissue transplanted to the leg muscle. None of the experimental protocols caused significant unilateral phosphaturia, although unilaterally infused kidneys were shown to have received significantly more PTH than the contralateral kidneys. The transplanted parathyroid tissue was a major source of endogenous PTH, as was indicated by the development of significant hypocalcemia following surgical removal of the transplant. Unilateral PTH infusion did cause a significant unilateral increase in sodium excretion and significant bilateral phosphaturia. These results demonstrate that the phosphaturic and natriuretic responses to PTH can be dissociated in clearance experiments.